10/02/2026
NAADAC joins Illinois Association of Addiction Professionals in honoring Pamela Frazier for her many years of steadfast dedication and service to IAAP, addiction professionals, and the communities we serve. Thank you, Pamela Frazier! We appreciate you.
The Illinois Association of Addiction Professionals (IAAP) supports and advocates for professionals working across the addiction field through education, leadership, professional development, and connection. Our organization exists today because people were willing to build it, serve it, and remain committed to its mission. Pamela “Pam” Frazier is one of those people.
Pamela Frazier, NCAC II, CSADC, CODP II, GCE, co-founded IAAP in 1995 and has faithfully served the organization for 31 years. During that time, she held every executive board position, including president and secretary. Her leadership, wisdom, and commitment have helped shape IAAP and strengthen the addiction profession in Illinois and beyond.
Her service has never stopped at the boardroom. As Founder and Executive Director of N’ The Spirit Transformational Living, Pam has created a place of healing and support for women rebuilding their lives after treatment, incarceration, and other difficult circumstances. She also founded N’ The Spirit Behind the Walls Ministry at Cook County Jail and has been a leader with the United Mental Health and Addiction Coalition.
Pam has always understood that the people doing this work deserve to be seen and valued. In 2002, while serving as IAAP president, she raised a simple but important question at NAADAC’s national conference: “What about the counselors?” Her advocacy helped establish National Addiction Professionals Day, now observed each year on September 20. One person’s willingness to speak up created a national legacy of recognition for addiction professionals.
Her impact also continues through the Pamela Frazier Counselor of the Year Award, which IAAP named in her honor.
As Pam steps down from the IAAP Board, we are grateful that she will remain part of our organization as an Emeritus Board Member. This lifetime distinction reflects the extraordinary service she has given and ensures that IAAP will continue to benefit from her wisdom and guidance.
On behalf of the IAAP Board and our members, thank you, Pam, for your vision, sacrifice, leadership, and steadfast dedication. You have helped build an organization, strengthen a profession, and create opportunities for countless people to be recognized, supported, and heard.
Please join us in honoring Pamela Frazier for her many years of steadfast dedication and service to IAAP, addiction professionals, and the communities we serve.
Janet Mason Jamelia Hand NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals James Randall Webber Renee Lee Renata Caldwell Mark Sanders
