Crook County officials travel to D.C. drug abuse forum

Representatives from Crook County are headed to the Washington, D.C., area to join about 3,000 substance abuse prevention specialists and advocates from throughout the country for the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s 28 th Annual National Leadership Forum.

“We are so excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with other coalitions from across the country, learning and improving our prevention skills,” said Heather Stuart, the county’s prevention coordinator.

CADCA’s forum will cover a wide range of topics – everything from how to prevent prescription drug abuse and the abuse of synthetic drugs and marijuana to how to create tobacco-free environments and develop policies to reduce underage drinking.

The coalition representatives will hear from several leaders including Acting Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy Richard Baum and Dr. Bertha Madras, Harvard Medical School, who will both bring their expertise and insights to share. The Crook County Community Coalition will also meet with U.S. representatives and senators at the forum’s Capitol Hill Day event on Wednesday.

Some of the coalition’s youth members will participate in CADCA’s Youth Leadership training events to help them become strong community leaders. Olivia Cooper and Mitchel Bennett are both juniors at Crook County High School. They have been working on several projects, including expanding a club at CCHS called Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD). Their goal is to empower their peers to successfully confront the risks and pressures that challenge them throughout their day.

CADCA’s National Leadership Forum, the nation’s largest training event for community prevention leaders, treatment professionals and researchers, will take place at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center Feb. 5-8. Visit the Forum website for details about training sessions, speakers, and special events at cadca.org/events/forum2018.