Programs in Action
Welcome to CADCA Connection, the best way to hear about the latest from CADCA and the prevention field.

How Assessment Paved the Way for Williamstown’s Smokefree O...
How did Williamstown use assessment and data to successfully pass the region's first comprehensive smokefree policy?

How Assessment Paved the Way for Williamstown’s Smokefree Ordinance
How did Williamstown use assessment and data to successfully pass the region's first comprehensive smokefree policy?

Spotlighting Youth-Led Prevention Across the Nation
At CADCA’s 2025 Mid-Year Training Institute in Nashville, seven youth leaders from the Voices of Youth program presented the projects they’ve been building over the past year. Through hands-on training and mentorship, youth participants design and implement projects addressing substance use and mental health challenges where they live.

Launching Enhanced Technical Assistance in Arkansas
At this year’s Mid-Year Training Institute, CADCA introduced a new offering: Enhanced Technical Assistance (TA) for 11 coalitions in Arkansas. This is an exciting step forward in how we support coalitions in their journey.
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How Strong Internal Communication Supports Successful Coalitions
Earlier this summer, CPHSS’s Zara Petkovic and Laura Brossart led a webinar to guide attendees through the research behind CADCA’s Coalition Competencies and provide insights on how coalitions can begin building stronger internal communication processes.

A Look Back at CADCA’s 24th Annual Mid-Year Training Institute
From July 20-24, prevention professionals from across the globe convened in Nashville, TN for CADCA’s 24th Annual Mid-Year Training Institute. With more than 2,100 attendees, including over 400 youth attendees, the conference offered hundreds of educational workshops and unparalleled networking opportunities.

Partnering to Save Lives
Since 2020, CADCA and Walmart have partnered to educate community members about naloxone, a life-saving medication that can reverse an opioid overdose.

What Evaluation Looks Like When It’s Done Right
To bring the content to life, the webinar featured real-world examples from PreventEd and the Lincoln County Community Opioid Response Effort (CORE), two Missouri-based organizations working in partnership with CPHSS to integrate evaluation into their daily operations.

How Competencies Help You Build a Stronger Coalition
CADCA has launched a new webinar series called Competencies in Focus. The first webinar took place on April 23 and highlighted the sustainability competency.

Introducing A New Webinar Series for Coalition Growth
Coalition work is complex. Building and sustaining an effective coalition takes structure, strategy, and a clear understanding of what makes community change stick. That’s why CADCA is launching Competencies in Focus, a new monthly webinar series developed in partnership with the Center for Public Health Systems Science at Washington University in St. Louis.

Looking Back on 2024
Another year has come and gone, and as we move forward into 2025, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the progress that we made last year. The 2024 Annual Report theme, The Power of Prevention, captures what we and our coalitions have achieved in communities across the country and around the world.

Youth Voices Featured at Kansas Prevention Advocacy Day
On February 26, youth leaders from the Kansas Youth Prevention Action Council (KYPAC) took to the Kansas State Capitol to participate in Kansas Prevention Advocacy Day.

CADCA Joins the Organization of American States
We are thrilled to share that CADCA has been officially approved as a registered civil society organization within the Organization of American States (OAS). This recognition, granted by the Permanent Council of the OAS in December, will allow CADCA to participate in international drug policy discussions and collaborate with like-minded member states on substance use prevention initiatives.

Highlights from CADCA’s 35th Annual National Leadership Forum
CADCA recently wrapped up its 35th Annual National Leadership Forum, taking place February 3-6, in National Harbor, MD. The event brought together approximately 4,300 prevention professionals including nearly 600 youth attendees to participate in hundreds of education sessions and events and engage in countless networking opportunities.

Celebrating the Winners of the 2024 Dose of Prevention Challenge
Every year, CADCA hosts a Dose of Prevention Challenge in partnership with the Consumer Healthcare Products Association’s Stop Medicine Abuse campaign. We are excited to announce the 2024 winner and runners-up of the 2024 Dose of Prevention Challenge.

Learning Naloxone Administration through VR Technology
Virtual Reality (VR) technology is rapidly reshaping educational experiences in areas previously limited to traditional methods, such as healthcare and safety training.