Houston, TX, October 27, 2023—The Association of Substance Abuse Programs (ASAP) has announced that Dr. Joy Schmitz, a dedicated board member of the Cenikor Foundation, will be honored with the Lone Star Award in the Community Individual category. This accolade recognizes outstanding leadership and remarkable contributions to substance use disorder (SUD) services. Cenikor nominated Dr. Schmitz for her dedication to finding new ways for people with SUD to overcome their addiction.
ASAP’s Lone Star Award, established in 2006 to celebrate and honor those who have made significant contributions to the field of prevention, treatment, and recovery, is a testament to Dr. Schmitz’s research and leadership. This year’s recipients highlight the importance of community leadership and involvement in advancing SUD services.
Bill Bailey, in his nomination of Dr. Schmitz, highlighted her remarkable contributions to the field, stating:
As the treatment clinic director for the Center for Neurobehavioral Research on Addiction (CNRA), Dr. Schmitz has developed a longstanding research program on the development and evaluation of behavioral treatments and combinations of behavioral therapies and pharmacotherapies for substance use disorders. Her research has been continuously funded since 1995 and has resulted in over 120 publications.
She has an extensive record of training students at all levels, including psychology interns, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty. Dr. Schmitz has received several mentoring awards, including the UTHealth President’s Award for Mentoring Women (2003) and the Women Faculty Forum Clinical Excellence Award (2016), and has also served on Cenikor’s board of directors since 2018.
Schmitz has been at the forefront of addiction medicine since the early 2000s, publishing a study on cognitive behavioral therapy and Naltrexone for cocaine use disorder in 2004—much ahead of the curve. Since then, she has not stopped researching effective treatments for SUD, which she notes is not a ‘cure-all’; it must continue for a lifetime.
She provides the research behind the evidence-based practices we use today and has made a lasting and distinctive contribution to substance use disorder services.
Dr. Schmitz will be presented with the award at the Lone Star Award luncheon on November 7, 2023, alongside three additional winners: Texas Representative Toni Rose of District 110; Chris Ammann, Partner at KPMG Consulting Services; and Chris Garcia, Certified Prevention Specialist at Mid-Coast Family Services. The event, hosted by ASAP, will bring together leaders, professionals, and advocates who further the organization’s mission to ensure Texans have access to optimal substance abuse services.
ABOUT CENIKOR
Cenikor is a leading nonprofit provider of comprehensive substance use disorder treatment, committed to delivering evidence-based care, promoting recovery, and supporting individuals in their journey to lasting sobriety since 1967. With a team of dedicated healthcare professionals, Cenikor offers a range of services, including detoxification, residential treatment, outpatient programs, and aftercare support. By combining clinical expertise with compassion and personalized care, Cenikor strives to empower individuals and families affected by addiction and foster sustainable recovery. More than 300,000 lives have been changed in the process.
For more information about this news release, please contact Maddie Profilet, Marketing and Media Relations Director, via email at media@cenikor.org.
If you or someone you know is seeking treatment for substance use disorder, call Cenikor today at 1-888-236-4567.
Let's Do This!
