Rise Above It: Lexington Two Community Coalition, LRADAC Attending CADCA’s National Leadership Forum to Learn New Skills to Increase Substance Abuse Prevention Efforts

February 6, 2018

Columbia, S.C. – Representatives from Rise Above It: Lexington Two Community Coalition (RAI) and LRADAC are in the Washington, D.C., area with approximately 3,000 other substance abuse prevention specialists and advocates from throughout the country for CADCA’s (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s) 28th Annual National Leadership Forum.

“We are excited to take part in the learning, networking and information sharing opportunities afforded through our participation in CADCA’s 28th National Leadership Forum and SAMHSA’s 14th Prevention Day,” said Shauna Cooper, LRADAC Director of Community Services. “We are getting first-hand information from implementers of innovative and effective programming to address substance use prevention that we are looking forward to taking back to our community and putting into practice.”

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. RAI and LRADAC representatives will also meet with U.S. representatives and senators at the Forum’s Capitol Hill Day event on Wednesday, Feb. 7.

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.

LRADAC is the designated alcohol abuse and drug abuse authority for Lexington and Richland Counties of South Carolina. The public, not-for-profit agency offers a wide array of prevention, intervention and treatment programs in locations convenient to residents of both counties. The agency has a budget of approximately $10 million and serves more than 5,000 clients per year.