CPDD was originally established in 1929 by the Bureau of Social Hygiene as a 'Committee on Drug Addiction'.
In 1976, the organization was reincorporated as an independent body affiliated with other scientific and professional societies.
[citation needed] CPDD sponsors an 'Advocacy day', where members travel to Washington, DC and meet with US House of Representatives and Congressional staff to talk about research into Substance Use Disorder, evidence-based policies, and to encourage continued funding of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
[3] The first annual meeting of CPDD as an independent "Committee on Problems of Drug Dependence, Inc.", was held at the International Inn in Washington, D.C., in February 1977.
The meetings act as a forum to bring together basic and clinical scientists from across industry,[4] academia, and government.