Steppin' It Up Coalition National Substance Abuse Prevention Conference

Representatives from the Steppin’ It Up Coalition headed to the Washington, D.C. area, joining more than 2,000 substance abuse prevention specialists and advocates from throughout the country for Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America's (CADCA) 23^rd Annual National Leadership Forum.

CADCA’s National Leadership Forum, the nation’s largest training conference for community prevention leaders, treatment professionals and researchers and SAMHSA’s 9th Prevention Day, was held at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center, National Harbor Maryland, on February 4 –7, 2013.

“We were so excited to be able to spend several days with other similar organizations from across the country, learning and honing our prevention skills so our community can be a better place, one that doesn’t suffer from the harms of drug and alcohol abuse,” says Cathy Breazeale, Project Director. “We were energized with new strategies to tackle drug use in Pickens County SC.”

CADCA’s Forum covered 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 underage and excessive drinking.

In addition to participating in workshops and plenary sessions with experts at the local, state and federal level, the coalition also participated in state-wide meetings and a special session on marijuana legalization and medical marijuana at CADCA’s Forum.

The coalition has recently impacted the community by coming together with the newly formed Prescription Drug Alliance headed by Dr. Jim Mahanes and other health professionals. A forum has been set for April 29, 2013, 7pm at Pickens High School, Pickens SC.

The coalition also was fortunate to meet with U.S. House Representative Jeff Duncan, and Senator Lindsay Graham and Senator Tim Scott during the Forum’s Capitol Hill Day event on Monday, Feb. 4^th and Wednesday, Feb. 6^th.  

Also during the CADCA Forum, some of the coalition’s youth members, LaQuisha Chamblee, a junior at Liberty High School and Forrest Bundrick, a sophomore at Daniel High School participated in training to help them become strong community leaders called CADCA’s National Youth Leadership Initiative. Forrest also was the grand prize winner of a youth event bringing home $400.00 worth of Itune cards.