#USA #Raleigh #APNC #Sara Howe #Anne Doolen

Sara Howe of APNC Honored with the Anne Doolen Visionary Award

On November 4, 2025, the Addiction Professionals of North Carolina (APNC) proudly announced that its CEO, Sara Howe, has been selected as the recipient of the esteemed Anne Doolen Visionary Award for 2025. This accolade celebrates her incredible impact and unwavering advocacy for behavioral health and addiction service advancements across North Carolina.

The Anne Doolen Visionary Award is named after the late Anne Doolen, a trailblazer whose dedicated efforts and vision greatly improved the state's substance use disorder treatment landscape. This award is presented to individuals whose work reflect the same level of courage and creativity exemplified by Doolen throughout her career.

In her acceptance speech, Howe expressed that the award is a team achievement, stating, "This award is not for me as an individual. It belongs to the entire APNC team — the people who show up every day with heart, grit, and purpose to strengthen communities, expand prevention, and improve the health and well-being of all North Carolinians." She emphasized the collective effort involved in the mission to create a supportive treatment environment for substance use disorders.

Having joined APNC in 2023, Howe quickly established herself as a visionary leader within the behavioral health sector. Under her stewardship, the organization has fortified prevention strategies, broadened recovery support systems, and intensified harm reduction initiatives. Noteworthy achievements during her tenure include the launch of the Center of Excellence for Gambling Addiction Policy and Practice as well as a Professional Development Center aimed at enhancing workforce skills throughout North Carolina.

Darryl Hubbard, Executive Director of the Alcohol/Drug Council of NC, the organization responsible for the award, remarked, "Sara brings the same spirit of vision and compassion that Anne Doolen modeled throughout her life. Her leadership continues to elevate the field and ensure that the voices of those impacted by addiction are heard, respected, and represented."

The recognition bestowed upon Howe via the Anne Doolen Visionary Award signifies the enduring significance of empathetic leadership and actionable change in the realm of behavioral health. Building upon the remarkable legacy of Anne Doolen, APNC strives to enhance North Carolina's behavioral health workforce and ensure that every resident has access to the care and support they require.

About Addiction Professionals of North Carolina (APNC)

Founded as a statewide nonprofit association, the Addiction Professionals of North Carolina (APNC) unites professionals and organizations committed to preventing substance use, expanding access to treatment, supporting recovery, and improving the overall health and well-being of North Carolinians. Through its advocacy, educational efforts, and collaboration, APNC endeavors to establish a robust, equitable, and compassionate behavioral health system.

For more information about APNC and its initiatives, please visit www.apnc.org.