San Francisco, CA – Today, Dr. Darryl Inaba was honored as the Haight Ashbury Free Clinics’ (HAFCI) first Fellow by John Eckstrom, HAFCI CEO, for his sustained and distinguished clinical achievements.  A Fellowship is the highest honor anyone at HAFCI can achieve.
 
“Dr. Inaba has devoted his working career to researching and treating individuals suffering from addiction,” said Eckstrom.  “Darryl is considered one of the foremost experts on drugs, addiction, and pharmacology and has been with the Clinics since its inception.  He is a scientist and a master at creating programs that effectively help people fight the addictions of drugs.  We are very proud to name him our first HAFCI Fellow.”

Inaba is an internationally recognized pharmacologist, is the author of multiple texts that are used in teaching programs throughout the world, has appeared in numerous documentaries, and is frequently called upon as an authority on drugs and addiction.  Inaba is an author of several hundred technical articles, several dozen award-winning films and videos, a government advisor and a popular speaker.  He also served as CEO of the Clinics. 
 
“I am honored to receive such an accommodation,” said Inaba.  “This recognition is something that is to be shared by my colleagues and numerous volunteers who have helped devote so much time to our cause, to fight addiction and to help those who need it most.”

Inaba has written the definitive book on drugs: Uppers, Downers, All Arounders - which has saved thousands of lives nationwide.  His other significant books are The New Drugs: Look-Alikes, Drugs of Deception and Designer Drugs (with Richard Seymour, David Smith and Mim Landry, 1989) and Psychoactive: The Physiological Effects of Psychoactive Drugs (with William Cohen, Paul Steinbroner and Craig Whitehead, 1977). 
 
Inaba has retained the position of associate clinic professor at University of California, San Francisco Medical Center since 1971 and has served as special consultant and instructor at the University of Utah School on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse since 1983.  Inaba has worked at HAFCI since it first opened and served as director of its substance abuse treatments activities for some 30 years before moving into the CEO position.  He has brought honor, distinction and recognition to the Clinics his entire career.

After completing undergraduate work at California State University, Fresno, Inaba earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University of California, San Francisco.  He has served on numerous boards and commissions and has earned more than 50 individual commendations, awards and honors for his work.

The HAFCI Fellows program was founded in 2006 by HAFCI CEO John Eckstrom as a way to promote creativity and continued innovation among the organizations “most exceptional” clinical professionals.  In addition to a history of extraordinary accomplishments, a candidate must also be considered to have the potential to make continued contributions.

The Haight Ashbury Free Clinic (HAFCI) mission is to increase access to health care and improve the well-being of its clients. More than 65,000 individuals and families depend on the Clinics every year to provide free, high-quality, and comprehensive health care that is culturally sensitive, nonjudgmental and accessible to all in need.

The Clinics concentrates its focus in five core programs: Medical Clinic – A “safety-net provider” of primary medical care services. Substance Abuse Treatment Services– Outpatient, Residential and Street Outreach programs for drug and alcohol addiction. Jail Psychiatric Services  – Mental health services provided to the mentally ill population who are incarcerated rather than treated due to the tremendous cutbacks in mental hospitals and mentally ill services. Rock Medicine – The medical services standard in providing mobile, medical services to large public events. Research, Education and Training – Research, educational and training efforts that are internationally recognized by chemical dependency experts, pharmaceutical companies, legislative and regulatory agencies, and the DEA and local enforcement agencies.