Adults and youth alike were grateful for the informative workshops and the many opportunities to interact with others. Becky Carlson from Sussex County Coalition for Healthy & Safe Families said, “Thank you CADCA for making this Forum such a success. Our coalition came away excited, revitalized and reenergized; ready to tackle our prevention efforts.” Barbra Rubio, a youth Track participant from the Coalition of West Michigan, expressed her sentiments as well, “I had a remarkable and thrilling time. This was a week where I could be myself in a drug-free environment with a bunch of other teens that are drug and alcohol free. It was an experience that I will never forget. It is an experience that no teen should miss.”

A new feature to this year’s Forum was the integration of SAMHSA’s 7th Annual Faith and Community-Based Summit to further strengthen the ties between faith-based organizations and community anti-drug coalitions. It attracted over 500 enthusiastic participants from faith communities and substance abuse prevention fields who heard a variety of distinguished panelists and experts addressing a host of faith-related topics.

As always Capitol Hill Day not only served as a day to educate congressional members about the importance of what coalitions do every day, but also as a reminder of the awesome power coalitions have to create positive change. Nearly 1,000 Forum attendees hit the Hill to meet their Congressional Delegation.

The National Leadership Forum concluded with the Awards Luncheon at the stunning new Washington D.C. Convention Center. The Luncheon was highlighted by a very insightful presentation by Youth Track participants titled, "What We Try to Say That Adults Don’t Hear" followed by the presentation of the CADCA Awards.

To read a full report of the Forum watch your mailboxes for the next edition of the Coalitions newsletter. And be sure to mark your calendar now to join us, January 2005 in Washington, D.C. for FORUM XV. We have a host of exciting special events planned in celebration of 15 years of the Forum.

To see more pictures from the Forum on the official photographer's web site [click here] . Pictures may be ordered for a fee.