Community Leaders From Across The Country Head To Austin For CADCA 2013 Mid-Year Training Institute July 21-25

To learn new skills to tackle their community's substance abuse problems

WASHINGTON, July 18, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 1,700 substance abuse prevention and treatment specialists from across the country will convene in Austin, Texas next week for Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America's (CADCA) 2013 Mid-Year Training Institute, held July 21-25 at the Hilton Austin.

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CADCA's Mid-Year Training Institute is a one-of-a-kind intensive training opportunity, offering more than 75 half-day and full-day courses geared towards helping participants find solutions to their community's toughest substance abuse problems. In addition, participants will hear from several national experts and state leaders, such as Dr. Pennie Foster-Fishman, a social change expert and professor in the Department of Psychology and a Senior Outreach Fellow in University Outreach and Engagement at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich.; Pam Hyde, Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and David L. Lakey, MD, Commissioner, Texas Department of State Health Services.

"The Mid-Year is a unique professional development opportunity for anyone trying to prevent and reduce drug abuse, and its related problems, in their community," said General Arthur T. Dean, CADCA's Chairman and CEO. "After four days of intensive training, participants will return to their communities with new skills and strategies, and a clearer roadmap to create environments where young people can thrive."

CADCA's Mid-Year will cover a wide range of topics – everything from how to prevent prescription drug abuse and the abuse of synthetic drugs like bath salts and K2 to how to create tobacco-free environments and develop policies to reduce marijuana use and underage drinking.

In addition, on Wednesday, July 24, CADCA along with Project SAM will hold a special symposium, entitled "Getting Smart About Marijuana," featuring Dr. Kevin Sabet, Project SAM Co-Founder; Sue Thau, CADCA's Public Policy Consultant; Dr. Stu Gitlow, Project SAM Board Member and President of the American Society for Addiction Medicine; John Redman, Executive Director of Californians for Drug Free Youth and Dr. David Jernigan, Director of the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. During this interactive symposium, national experts will walk participants through the latest science and research behind marijuana and its effects on public health and safety.

The Mid-Year also welcomes 300 youth from around the country who will take part in CADCA's workforce development training, the National Youth Leadership Initiative (NYLI), where they'll learn how to become anti-drug advocates and powerful community leaders.

To view the courses available at CADCA's Mid-Year Training Institute, visit http://midyear.cadca.org/.
Members of the media interested in covering any portion of the event should contact Natalia Martinez Duncan at (202) 344-5464 or via e-mail at [email protected].

CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America), is the national membership organization representing over 5,000 coalitions and affiliates working to make America's communities safe, healthy and drug-free. CADCA's mission is to strengthen the capacity of community coalitions by providing technical assistance and training, public policy advocacy, media strategies and marketing programs, conferences, and special events.

Learn more at: www.cadca.org.  

Media Contacts:
Natalia Martinez Duncan (703) 706-0560 x256

SOURCE CADCA