OLYMPIA -- Doug Allen, a popular administrator with a long background in state policymaking and budget planning, has been selected to head the Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse (DASA) in the Department of Social and Health Services.

Doug Porter, Assistant Secretary of the Health and Recovery Services Administration, which includes DASA, said Allen's promotion to the post followed a national recruitment.

"It became clear that the candidates from that effort did not measure up to Doug or the record he has created in only a few months," Porter said. "I received the same message in the form of many endorsements from our external stakeholders and Doug's colleagues."

Porter called Allen a "proven leader with high standards and a keen eye for detail."

Allen, who has been Acting Director of DASA since November 2005, was formerly Office Chief for DASA's Policy, Planning and Legislative Relations. In the position, he oversaw the division's strategic plan, federal block grant, workforce development, and state certification and accreditation of chemical dependency treatment agencies.

Prior to working at DASA, Allen served as a policy analyst under two former governors, Mike Lowry and Booth Gardner. In those positions, he worked to develop strategies that focused on a coordinated approach to alcohol and other drug issues with law enforcement, prevention, education and treatment.

A few years later, Allen moved to DASA as Special Projects Manager and was able to help put some of those policies into effect.

At DASA, he earned a reputation for staff loyalty and an open, problem-solving mind. He continues to support successful strategies to focus attention on underage drinking and teen access to alcohol, leads an initiative to increase access to treatment, and was tapped in 2005 to head up the Legislature's mandate to prevent and treat another increasing disorder affecting Washington families – problem gambling.

He also headed DASA's work to reduce methamphetamine production and use in Washington State, placing Washington in the forefront of states that recognized the meth problem early on and that provided research and education on the impact of the drug and effective treatment for addiction.

Allen received a Governor's Distinguished Manager Award in 2004. He has a degree in Business Administration from Washington State University.

Allen began his state service in the Employment Security Department in the late 1970s, a position that gave him extensive experience working in the design and implementation of employment and training programs.

He was named Acting Director to replace Kenneth D. Stark, longtime DASA Director who left the position in the fall of 2005. Stark was selected to direct a state task force and a federal Mental Health Transformation Grant project aimed at dramatic changes in the way mental health services are administered and delivered at all levels of government.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND BACKGROUND:

Jim Stevenson, Communications Director, HRSA, DSHS, 360-902-7604

Deb Schnellman, Communications, DASA, HRSA, DSHS, 360-725-3763