CADCA's National Leadership Forum

WATAUGA SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION ATTENDS CADCA’S NATIONAL LEADERSHIP FORUM TO LEARN NEW SKILLS TO REDUCE YOUTH DRUG USE 

BOONE, NC – Representatives from Watauga Substance Abuse Prevention (WSAP) headed to the Washington, D.C. area to join more than 2,500 substance abuse prevention specialists and advocates from throughout the country for Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America's (CADCA) 25^th Annual National Leadership Forum, held Feb. 2-5, 2015 at the Gaylord National Hotel.

“We are so thrilled to have spent several days with other similar organizations from across the country, learning and honing our prevention skills so our community can be a better place--one that doesn't suffer from the harms of drug and alcohol abuse,” says Coalition Director Hollie Storie Wilcox. “We hope to bring back new energy and strategies that will help tackle drug use in the High Country.”

CADCA’s Forum covered a wide range of topics – everything from how to prevent prescription drug abuse and heroin use to how to create tobacco-free environments and develop policies to reduce underage and excessive drinking.

Coalition representatives also visited U.S. representative Virginia Foxx’s office during Capitol Hill Day to share information about the importance of substance abuse prevention and the impact that coalitions are having in Watauga County.

As a result of community-based efforts, Watauga County underage drinking rates are trending downward at a significant rate.  WSAP implements evidence-based strategies to reduce underage drinking and focuses on reducing youth access to alcohol, both at home and in retail settings.

CADCA’s National Leadership Forum is the premier and largest training event for community-based substance abuse prevention professionals, coalition leaders and prevention and addiction researchers. The Forum is a four-day event packed with opportunities to learn the latest strategies to fight substance abuse and hear from nationally-known prevention experts, federal administrators and concerned policymakers. For details about the more than 70 training sessions and speakers, visit: http://forum.cadca.org/.

WSAP is a data driven, evidenced based, multi-sector coalition with a goal to reduce youth substance use and abuse in Watauga County. WSAP partners with the community to prevent and reduce the misuse of alcohol, marijuana, and prescription medication by youth through awareness, advocacy, and action. For more information visit: www.wsap.org 

# # #