Substance abuse prevention and treatment professionals from around the nation will gather at the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s (CADCA) 25th Annual National Leadership Forum, February 2-5.

More than 2,500 participants are expected at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.

The forum will feature more than 70 courses to help participants learn effective strategies for addressing drug-related problems in their communities. Participants will include community drug-prevention coalitions, government leaders, youth, prevention specialists, addiction treatment professionals, addiction recovery advocates, researchers, educators, law enforcement professionals, and faith-based leaders.

Topics to be covered include prescription drug abuse, marijuana use among youth, and reducing tobacco use and underage drinking.

“More than a conference, the CADCA Forum is a national movement that brings together federal and state officials and community leaders from across the country to find solutions to our nation’s substance abuse problems. For 25 years, participants have left our forum with new ideas and strategies that they can implement in their communities to prevent and reduce youth drug use,” said CADCA Chairman and CEO Gen. Arthur T. Dean. “This year, to mark the CADCA Forum’s silver anniversary, we’re excited to welcome our nation’s top drug policy experts as well as many leaders from the fields of public health and addiction science.”

Speakers will include Michael Botticelli, Acting Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and a panel of past U.S. “drug czars”: Dr. William Bennett, Dr. Lee P. Brown, General Barry McCaffrey, John P. Walters and Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske.

Participants will hear from legislators during Capitol Hill Day on February 4. Several hundred youth will take part in CADCA’s National Youth Leadership Initiative, to learn how to become substance abuse prevention advocates and powerful community leaders.