Event Provides Community Leaders Effective Drug Prevention Strategies and the Latest Research in the Field
Washington, D.C. – More than 2,500 substance abuse prevention and treatment specialists from throughout the country will convene at Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s (CADCA) 26º Foro Anual de Liderazgo Nacional. El evento se llevará a cabo, Feb. 1-4, 2016 at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md, and kicks off with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Prevention Day.
CADCA’s National Leadership Forum is the nation’s premier training event for substance abuse prevention and treatment professionals and researchers, featuring more than 70 training courses to help participants learn effective strategies to address drug-related problems in their communities. This four-day training event brings together community drug prevention coalitions from all regions of the country and internationally, government leaders, youth, prevention specialists, addiction treatment professionals, addiction recovery advocates, researchers, educators, law enforcement professionals, and faith-based leaders. Topics will range from how to address the heroin and opioid epidemic and marijuana use among youth to how to reduce tobacco use and underage drinking.
“El Foro CADCA es más que un evento de capacitación. Es un movimiento nacional que reúne a funcionarios federales y estatales y líderes comunitarios de todo el país para encontrar soluciones a los problemas de abuso de sustancias de nuestra nación”, dijo el presidente y director ejecutivo de CADCA, el general Arthur T. Dean. “Los asistentes salen de nuestro Foro con la inspiración, la información y las estrategias que necesitan para hacer que sus comunidades sean seguras, saludables y libres de drogas”.
Bertha K. Madras, PhD, Professor of Psychobiology, Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, will keynote the National Leadership Plenary. Dr. Madras will address the importance of using science to inform the public about marijuana’s harm. DEA Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg, CADCA Chairman and CEO Gen. Arthur Dean and Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy Michael Botticelli will also be featured speakers at the National Leadership Plenary, which kicks off the event.
The Forum features two days of Power Sessions, which are unique opportunities to engage with Federal representatives. For example, George F. Koob, PhD, Director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, will provide an overview of the forthcoming NIAAA Strategic Plan and articulate his vision for the future of alcohol research at NIAAA. Wilson M. Compton, M.D., M.P.E. from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, will lead a conversation about the opioid crisis along with discussion of interventions where community coalitions may play a key role.
During Capitol Hill Day on Feb. 3, participants will hear a legislative update from CADCA’s Public Policy Consultant Sue Thau. CADCA board member The Honorable Mary Bono, Principal, FaegreBD Consulting (Member of Congress 1998-2013) will also provide remarks. A number of Congressional members will also participate:
- Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY)
- Congresswoman Susan Brooks (R-IN)
- Congressman Michael Fitzpatrick (R-PA)
- Congressman Bob Dold (R-IL)
- Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)
- Congressman Evan Jenkins (R-WV)
- Senator Rob Portman (R-OH)
- Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV)
- Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD)
- Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
- Senator Edward John Markey (D-MA)
- Senator Joseph Simon Donnelly (D-IN)
Cerca de 400 jóvenes también asistirán a la reunión para participar en la Iniciativa Nacional de Liderazgo Juvenil (NYLI) de CADCA, donde los jóvenes aprenderán cómo convertirse en defensores de la prevención del abuso de sustancias y poderosos líderes comunitarios.
Para más información sobre el Foro Nacional de Liderazgo de CADCA, visite foro.cadca.org.
