WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 2,700 substance abuse prevention and treatment specialists from throughout the country will convene at Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America's (CADCA) 26th Annual National Leadership Forum. The event will be held, Feb. 1-4, 2016 at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md, and kicks off with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Prevention Day.

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CADCA's National Leadership Forum is the nation's premier training event for substance abuse prevention and treatment professionals and researchers, featuring more than 70 training courses to help participants learn effective strategies to address drug-related problems in their communities. This four-day training event brings together community drug prevention coalitions from all regions of the country and internationally, government leaders, youth, prevention specialists, addiction treatment professionals, addiction recovery advocates, researchers, educators, law enforcement professionals, and faith-based leaders. Topics will range from how to address the heroin and opioid epidemic and marijuana use among youth to how to reduce tobacco use and underage drinking.

"The CADCA Forum is more than a training event. It's 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," said CADCA Chairman and CEO Gen. Arthur T. Dean. "Attendees leave our Forum with the inspiration, information, and strategies they need to make their communities safe, healthy and drug free."

Bertha K. Madras, PhD, Professor of Psychobiology, Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, will keynote the National Leadership Plenary. Dr. Madras will address the importance of using science to inform the public about marijuana's harm. DEA Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg, CADCA Chairman and CEO Gen. Arthur Dean and Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy Michael Botticelli will also be featured speakers at the National Leadership Plenary, which kicks off the event.

The Forum features two days of Power Sessions, which are unique opportunities to engage with Federal representatives. For example, George F. Koob, PhD, Director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, will provide an overview of the forthcoming NIAAA Strategic Plan and articulate his vision for the future of alcohol research at NIAAA. Wilson M. Compton, M.D., M.P.E. from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, will lead a conversation about the opioid crisis along with discussion of interventions where community coalitions may play a key role.

During Capitol Hill Day on Feb. 3, participants will hear a legislative update from CADCA's Public Policy Consultant Sue Thau. CADCA board member The Honorable Mary Bono, Principal, FaegreBD Consulting (Member of Congress 1998-2013) will also provide remarks. A number of Congressional members will also participate:


    --  Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY)
    --  Congresswoman Susan Brooks (R-IN)
    --  Congressman Michael Fitzpatrick (R-PA)
    --  Congressman Bob Dold (R-IL)
    --  Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)
    --  Congressman Evan Jenkins (R-WV)
    --  Senator Rob Portman (R-OH)
    --  Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV)
    --  Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD)
    --  Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
    --  Senator Edward John Markey (D-MA)
    --  Senator Joseph Simon Donnelly (D-IN)

Nearly 400 youth will also attend the meeting to take part in CADCA's National Youth Leadership Initiative (NYLI), where youth will learn how to become substance abuse prevention advocates and powerful community leaders.

For more information about CADCA's National Leadership Forum, visit forum.cadca.org.

About CADCA
CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) is the leading membership organization representing over 5,000 coalitions and affiliates working to make the world'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.

Contacts:
 Victoria Carlborg
vcarlborg@cadca.org
703-706-0560, ext.238

Jessica Joisten
jjoisten@cadca.or
703-706-0560, ext. 256

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SOURCE CADCA