Coalitions Moving Forward: Mapping the Future

Washington, D.C. – Nearly 3,000 substance abuse prevention and treatment specialists from throughout the country will convene in the Washington, D.C. area for Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s (CADCA) 21st annual National Leadership Forum, which will be held February 7-10, 2011 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center. Headlining the conference are Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy and Howard Koh MD, Ph.D., Assistant Secretary of Health for the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, who will both provide keynote addresses during the National Leadership Plenary on Feb. 8.

Kerlikowske coordinates all aspects of federal drug control programs and implements the President’s National Drug Control Strategy. He brings 37 years of law enforcement and drug policy experience to the position. He most recently served nine years as the Chief of Police for Seattle, Washington. When he left, crime was at its lowest point in 40 years. Previously, he was Deputy Director for the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.

Dr. Howard Koh is a world-renowned public health expert and physician who has devoted his career to promoting prevention and wellness policies and reducing health disparities. He was most recently the Harvey V. Fineberg Professor of the Practice of Public Health, Associate Dean for Public Health Practice, and Director of the Division of Public Health Practice at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), where he was the Principal Investigator of multiple research grants related to community-based participatory research, cancer prevention, health disparities, tobacco control, and emergency preparedness.

“We are truly excited to welcome Director Kerlikowske for the third time and Dr. Koh for the second time to our annual meeting. Not only are they leaders in the fields of public health and safety, but they genuinely understand the value of community-based drug prevention efforts,” said General Arthur T. Dean, CADCA’s Chairman and CEO. “We’re also thrilled that a number of other national leaders representing seven federal agencies will offer remarks during our conference.”

CADCA’s National Leadership Forum is the nation’s largest training for substance abuse prevention and treatment professionals and researchers, featuring more than 100 training courses to help community and state leaders prevent and reduce substance abuse and its related problems. The event, which includes nearly 100 workshops and plenary sessions, offers participants an opportunity to learn effective strategies to solve their community’s substance abuse and violence problems, and to hear from the country’s leading experts on drug prevention, treatment and recovery. Several hundred youth will also attend the meeting to take part in CADCA’s workforce development training, the National Youth Leadership Initiative, where youth will learn how to become anti-drug advocates and powerful community leaders.

In addition, during Capitol Hill Day on Feb. 9, several members of Congress will address CADCA members. They include Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA); Congresswoman Karen Bass, D-CA; and Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-IL). CADCA has also invited Vice President Joseph Biden, who was a longtime champion of substance abuse prevention and the community coalition movement.

During two special Federal Town Hall sessions, directors of various federal agencies will take questions from participants and via Twitter. Presenters include:

Federal Town Hall Meeting I, Tues., Feb. 8, 1:30 pm – 3 pm

• Moderator: Elizabeth Cohen (CNN Senior Medical Correspondent)
• Dr. Nora Volkow, Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Dr. Kenneth Warren, Acting Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
• Fran Harding, Director, Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

Federal Town Hall Meeting II, Thurs., Feb. 10, 9 am – 10:30 am

• Moderator: Jim Vance (NBC News4 Anchor)
• Michele Leonhart, Administrator, Drug Enforcement Administration
• Pam Hyde, Administrator, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration
• Kevin Jennings, Asst. Deputy Secretary, Department of Education
• Mary Lou Leary, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Office of Justice Programs

CADCA’s Forum will cover a wide range of topics – everything from how to prevent prescription drug abuse and underage drinking to how to apply research to community-based drug prevention efforts and screening and brief intervention for substance use disorders.

For more information about CADCA’s National Leadership Forum, visit www.cadca.org/events/forum21.

Members of the media interested in press credentials for the National Leadership Forum should contact Natalia Martinez Duncan at (703) 706-0560 ext. 256 or via e-mail.