Cowboys, cattle drives, and drug prevention?
Half of our team packed their bags and flew down to Texas for the 18th Annual Mid-Year Training Institute hosted by the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA). CADCA is a nonprofit organization that works toward creating safe, healthy, and drug-free communities by emphasizing the power of preventing substance misuse through wide-reaching community efforts. CADCA gathers substance use professionals from around the world and helps their members network, share ideas, and learn.
Held at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas, this year’s training saw over 2,100 attendees and 500 youth leaders from 21 countries. With a variety of trainings offered, prevention professionals chose their classes and split into smaller groups.
Many classes focused on specific areas in prevention. Our Communications Coordinator, Trent Unruh, attended classes that focused on communicating the dangers of marijuana and other substances to teens and their parents.
“It was great working with communications professionals from rural places like ours. I wasn’t surprised to hear about many of the issues they face, but was surprised to learn about the creative ways they are addressing and communicating those issues,” Trent said.
Other sessions included underage drinking prevention in rural communities, building partnerships, and reducing prescription misuse through safe and effective disposal systems.
It was a busy four days, but we didn’t forget to take the time to mingle during town hall meetings and daily networking breakfasts. We even met up with prevention advocates from all over the Silver State for some Texas Style BBQ.
For more information on CADCA and their trainings, visit cadca.org
