Westshore Young Leaders hone substance abuse prevention skills

Students from the Westshore Young Leaders are joining more than 1,500 substance abuse prevention specialists from across the country at Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA)’s 2015 Mid-Year Training Institute in Indianapolis Aug. 2-6.  

CADCA’s Mid-Year Training Institute is a one-of-a-kind intensive training opportunity, offering more than 70 half-day and two-day courses geared towards helping participants find solutions to their community’s toughest substance abuse problems. Attendees participate in a variety of lecture and hands-on sessions to expand their knowledge in prevention science and improve their skills in implementing evidence-based strategies to reduce drug and alcohol use.

This year’s Mid-Year will feature a number of renowned experts in the field of substance abuse prevention, with keynote remarks by Michael Botticelli, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy; Kana Enomoto, Deputy Principal Administrator for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); and Karla Sneegas, Branch Chief for the CDC’s Office of Smoking and Health.

“We are fortunate to be able to spend a week with other similar organizations from across the country, learning and honing our skills so we can more effectively prevent drug and alcohol abuse,” says Noreen Kyle, School Prevention Specialist, Westshore Enforcement Bureau “We hope to return reenergized with new strategies under our belt to tackle drug use and its associated problems in our western suburbs.”

CADCA’s Mid-Year will cover a wide range of topics – everything from how to prevent prescription drug abuse and reduce heroin use to how to create tobacco-free environments, reduce impaired driving and develop policies to reduce marijuana use and underage drinking.

The coalition is currently working on training our Young Leaders to be equipped to work collectively to create community change.

The Westshore Young Leaders Network is dedicated to implementing strategies aimed at preventing and reducing youth substance use while encouraging healthy life choices in the Westshore communities.