September 19, 2002

1) REGISTERING FOR CADCA's FORUM HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER

If you plan to attend CADCA's National Leadership Forum, February 11-14, 2003, you'll need to register and CADCA has made that process easier than ever. You can register online at www.cadca.org with a major credit card, or you can print out registration forms from the site. You can also obtain the forms through our new Fax on Demand Service. Simply dial 1-888-715-5503, and enter document #5. Then just dial your fax number, and the form will be faxed immediately to you.

To find out more about the Forum XIII, visit http://cadca.org/Events/Forum/Forum.htm.

2) SAFE AND DRUG-FREE SCHOOLS OFFICE FORMED; ANDELL NAMED HEAD

Congratulations to Judge Eric G. Andell, who has been appointed to head the newly formed Safe and Drug-Free Schools Office within the Department of Education. Judge Andell had previously been senior advisor to Secretary Paige. All activities related to safe schools, crisis response, alcohol and drug prevention, health and well being of students, and building strong character and citizenship will be located in the safe and drug-free schools office. The Office will also assist schools in developing plans to deal with various threats they face and which, if not addressed, could impede teaching and learning.

"Folding all programs that deal with safety, health and citizenship into one office will enable us to better respond to the critical needs of schools in these areas and also help us to develop a broad-based comprehensive strategy," Secretary Paige said. "Ensuring that all schools are safe, free of alcohol and drugs, and teach students good citizenship and character is essential if we are to ensure that no child is left behind."

CADCA is extremely pleased to see such a talented and experienced professional selected to head this important office.

3) ONDCP ROLLS OUT NATIONWIDE MARIJUANA INITIATIVE

CADCA has teamed up with the Office of National Drug Control Policy for its latest initiative aimed at dispelling popular myths and alert parents and teens about the dangers of marijuana.

The marijuana prevention effort includes advertising that began running nationwide this week. An "Open Letter to Parents About Marijuana" ad, co-signed by 17 anti-drug organizations, including CADCA, appeared in USA Today and more than 300 newspapers nationwide. Additional ads for parents will focus on marijuana's risks for young users and the things parents can say and do to keep their kids drug free. Youth ads, aimed at teens age 14-16, will show that marijuana use is risky and can lead to a host of serious consequences.

Additional outreach to support the advertising includes: community events, media outreach, briefings for entertainment writers and journalists, multicultural initiatives, classroom resources, and an array of tools for community coalitions, drug-prevention organizations, youth-serving organizations, parenting groups and other campaign stakeholders.

A free "Marijuana Awareness Kit" is available online at www.mediacampaign.org. The kit includes information about the latest research on the harms of marijuana and includes easy-to-use materials and resources that make the case against youth marijuana use.

4) NEW POLL EXPLORES "HIDDEN COSTS OF CHILDHOOD DRINKING"

The Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol-Free held a press conference today to announce the results of a nationwide opinion leaders poll called "The Hidden Costs of Childhood Drinking." The poll was sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Speakers at the press conference included Mary Easley, First Lady of North Carolina, Mikey Hoeven, First Lady of North Dakota and Mayor Jack Ford of Toledo, OH.

For more information, visit www.alcoholfreechildren.org.

5) TWO IMPORTANT DAYS, TWO IMPORTANT GOALS

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) is promoting "Family Day--A Day to Eat Dinner With Your Children" on September 23, 2002. The national effort seeks to promote parental engagement as a simple, effective way to reduce youth substance abuse risk and raise healthier children. Family Day is meant to emphasize the importance of regular family activities as a way to facilitate parent-child communication and encourage Americans to make family dinners a regular feature of their lives.

Celebrating Family Day is as simple as eating dinner with your children and engaging in other family activities. Employers are encouraged to let their employees off early on September 23rd, and schools and other organizations are asked not to schedule activities during dinnertime on this day. For more information , visit www.casacolumbia.org.

The Association for Addiction Professionals has designated September 25, 2002 as "National Addictions Counselor Day." The groups says the goal of the day is to increase awareness of the work of addictions counselors and the effectiveness of addictions treatment. To find out more about NAADAC or the National Addictions Counselor Day, visit www.naadac.org.

6) CATCH THE SPIRIT OF "RED RIBBON WEEK," OCTOBER 23 - 31

The National Family Partnership (NFP) will kick off its annual Red Ribbon Week at the Pentagon's Main Concourse in Arlington, VA on October 21, 2002. In conjunction with the Department of Defense and the Drug Enforcement Agency, the three-day Pentagon event will feature an award presentation, anti-drug booths and a host of distinguished guest speakers from the drug abuse prevention field.

This year's Red Ribbon week activities will take place from October 23 - 31, and will feature the theme "Freedom is Drug Free -- Plant the Promise." The NFP program encourages Americans to order red, white and blue flower bulbs and "plant the promise" to stay drug free. This will coincide with National Plant the Promise Day on October 23. To find out more about Red Ribbon Week, visit http://www.redribbon.org.

7) CELEBRATE RECOVERY MONTH AT SOBER JAM IN NEW ORLEANS

As part of Recovery Month activities, Hope Networks is holding the First Annual "Sober Jam" in New Orleans, on Sunday, September 29, 2002. Those who attend will be able to listen to the voices of those living in recovery, those conducting research to combat substance abuse and those who help others in need of guidance and assistance. Recovering substance abusers, faith leaders, advocacy and prevention professionals and local officials will all be on hand.

The event takes begins at 1pm on September 29 at Heritage Park on the Riverfront in New Orleans, LA. To find out more about the event, visit www.hopenetworks.org.

8) HIT US WITH YOUR BEST SHOT CONTEST WINNER #10; VIEW PHOTO AT WWW.CADCA.ORG

This week's winner of CADCA's "Hit Us With Your Best Shot" photo contest is Coronado SAFE Foundation of Coronado, CA. The photo was submitted by Cecily Kelly.

The winning picture's caption reads: "Prevention education starts early in Coronado. Middle school-aged students who are home schooled serve as the puppeteers for "On Applebee Pond" programs presented in community preschools and kindergartens. "On Applebee Pond" is a lifeskills and prevention curriculum developed by the Mercer County (PA) Behavioral Health Commission. About nine hundred students attended
performances during the last school year." Check out the photo now by visiting our website at www.cadca.org.

Why not enter your photo in CADCA's "Hit Us with Your Best Shot" Photo Contest?
Submit your photo today and be eligible to win a Sony Digital Camera and $250 cash!! Send your photos to photocontest@cadca.org. You must be a current CADCA member with all dues paid in full to be eligible.

OTHER USEFUL CADCA LINKS

If you are not a regular member of CADCA, or would like to learn more about our services, please visit: http://cadca.org/Membership/JoinCADCA.htm

Interested in the latest progress on legislation that affects coalitions and anti-drug efforts? Then go to: http://cadca.org/CoalitionToolkit/PublicPolicy/PublicPolicy.htm

To find out what’s going on with community anti-drug coalitions and events related to the substance abuse field, check out: http://cadca.org/Events/Events.htm

If you are receiving this e-newsletter by a forward and would like to subscribe yourself or know someone else that would be interested, click on: http://cadca.org/CoalitionToolkit/CADCAENews/CADCAENews.htm

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