CADCA Publisher October 6, 2016
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CADCA Honors Consumer Healthcare Products Association President and CEO Scott Melville and Former Congresswoman Mary Bono for Their Commitment to Reducing Drug Abuse Among America’s Youth

More than 400 business, community and government leaders gather at CADCA’s Drug-Free Kids Campaign Awards Dinner to support substance abuse prevention

Washington, D.C. – More than 400 business, community, and government leaders from across the country will participate in CADCA’s (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) 18th annual Drug-Free Kids Campaign Awards Dinner at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6, at The Ritz-Carlton in Washington, D.C. The Drug-Free Kids Campaign recognizes leaders who support CADCA’s effective substance abuse prevention model. Funds raised through the campaign help support CADCA’s efforts to build and strengthen local community coalitions and transform youth into civic leaders to reduce substance abuse.

During the event, CADCA will honor Scott Melville, President and CEO, Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) with it’s Humanitarian of the Year award for his commitment to addressing the complex issues of medicine abuse and misuse and for CHPA’s 10 years of outstanding partnership with CADCA. Thanks to CHPA’s support, CADCA has been able to activate coalitions around National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month in October; recognize and reward coalitions who implement robust medicine abuse awareness efforts with the Dose of Prevention award; and provide coalitions with a free resource, the website StopMedicineAbuse.org.

“I am honored to receive this prestigious award in recognition of the successful collaborative effort to reduce teen abuse of cough medicines containing dextromethorphan. Our industry is thankful for the partnership with CADCA to help influence teens to make healthy and smart choices in their lives,” says Scott Melville, President and CEO of the Consumer Healthcare Products Association and recipient of this year’s CADCA Humanitarian of the Year Award.

CADCA will also honor The Honorable Mary Bono, Principal, FaegreBD Consulting, and former member of U.S. Congress, as CADCA’s Champion for Drug-Free Kids for her countless hours of leadership and service, both in and out of Congress, towards reducing drug abuse among America’s youth. As a U.S. Representative (1998-2013), she served as co-chairperson of the Congressional Caucus on Prescription Drug Abuse and the Youth Drug Prevention Caucus. In 2015, Bono co-convened the Collaborative for Effective Prescription Opioid Policies (CEPOP), which engages diverse stakeholders behind a comprehensive and balanced public policy strategy to reduce prescription opioid abuse and promote treatment options.

“During my time in Congress, finding solutions to our nation’s prescription drug abuse epidemic was one of my top priorities. After leaving Congress, I was committed to continuing this work by joining CADCA’s Board of Directors and co-founding CEPOP,” said Mary Bono, Principal, FaegreBD Consulting. “I don’t do this work for accolades. I do it because addressing youth drug use is an issue dear to my heart. However, it’s an honor to be named CADCA’s Champion for Drug-Free Kids, and I’m humbled to accept this special award.”

“We are thrilled to recognize and celebrate the achievements of these two exceptional leaders,” said General Arthur T. Dean, Chairman and CEO, CADCA. “Scott and Mary have been instrumental to CADCA’s success and have made significant contributions to address medicine abuse and drug use amongst our nation’s youth.”

The Honorable Bill Johnson (R/6th-OH), a champion for drug prevention, will also participate in the event and provide remarks, and NBC Washington Anchor Pat Lawson Muse will serve as the evening’s Mistress of Ceremonies. A silent auction will be held to raise funds for the Drug-Free Kids Campaign, featuring items such as:

  • A handbag worn and signed by the living legend Cher, which includes a hand-written note from the award-winning singer and actress. The handbag is by designer-to-the-stars Loree Rodkin.
  • A luxurious get-away at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort or the Grand Mayan, Mexico
  • Unique sports and music memorabilia

A portion of the Drug-Free Kids Campaign benefits CADCA’s National Youth Leadership Initiative (NYLI), an evidence-based youth development training that helps young people and their adult advisors strategically address their local alcohol, tobacco and other drug problems. CADCA trains more than 1,000 youth each year through the NYLI. Youth trainers from the NYLI program Ananth Ghosh and Jetter White will also provide remarks at Thursday’s event about the impact of CADCA’s NYLI training and their work in their communities.

Visit cadca.org/events/dfkcdinner for more details about the campaign and the Drug-Free Kids Campaign Awards Dinner and to participate in the online silent auction. Follow at #DFKCampaign.

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