This week, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) joins leaders from over 50 countries at the 58th session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in Vienna, Austria to discuss a comprehensive approach to reducing drug use around the world.

The CND, which is composed of 53 member countries, is the principal policy-making body within the UN system on drug control issues. CADCA is one of a few U.S.-based non-government organizations (NGO) that have consultative status with the UN and is a member of the Vienna NGO Committee.

Throughout the week, CADCA will take part in plenary meetings, side meetings and informal discussions highlighting the community coalition model as an effective approach to reducing drug use and its related problems. CADCA will also emphasize the importance of maintaining the UN drug conventions, which are scheduled for review in 2016 at a special session on drugs of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

“CADCA is honored to be joining such a distinct group of leaders at this important event. Throughout the week, we are stressing the importance of a community-based approach to preventing and reducing illicit drug use. We are also encouraging member countries to uphold the UN drug conventions as they currently stand,” said Gen. Arthur T. Dean, CADCA Chairman and CEO. “The CND is also an opportunity for the CADCA team to meet face-to-face with leaders from many of the countries where we are training and supporting coalition development.”

CADCA is presenting at two important side events – the U.S.-sponsored “Innovations in Youth Drug Prevention” and in “A Public Health Approach to Drug Policy” sponsored by Europe Against Drugs. CADCA will also brief Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on our coalition strategy and efforts throughout the world.

CADCA’s delegation includes CADCA’s Gen. Arthur T. Dean; Dr. Eduardo Hernandez, CADCA’s Vice President of International Programs; Sue Thau, CADCA’s Public Policy Consultant; Irina Broughton with CADCA’s International Programs; and Abdelwahhab Ahmad Alawneh, a CADCA training consultant.

CADCA currently works with countries in five continents, helping them form community coalitions to address their local substance abuse problems.