A bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Youth Drug Prevention is in the works, and Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) says preventionists need to urge their local members of Congress to join. Prevention advocates can use the CapWiz system to find and contact legislators.

The caucus was cofounded by Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.) and Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.). Its mission is to:

• Educate members of Congress and federal agencies about the benefits of youth drug prevention (including the prevention of underage drinking);
• Raise awareness about the consequences of youth drug use among children, parents and families;
• Raise awareness about the effectiveness of comprehensive, community-wide approaches, including the involvement of parents, schools, teachers, and the media; and
• Ensure that substance use/abuse prevention is included in all appropriate authorizing and appropriations legislation, and garner support for such legislation.