Adult and youth leaders from the Schuyler County Coalition on Underage Drinking and Drugs (SCCUDD) joined 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.
The training offered courses geared towards helping participants find solutions to their community’s toughest substance abuse problems. Thanks to the Drug-Free Communities Support Grant, awarded to SCCUDD last year, four coalition members were able to attend the week-long intensive training: two adults and two teens.
“Personally the CADCA youth training in Indianapolis was very beneficial to me as a person and as a SCCUDD member and also as a member of Schuyler County. The logic model we created in our training sessions is ready to be implemented upon our arrival home. Seeing that other kids my age feel the same way about drug use and underage drinking was a wonderful experience. It's not always easy to be the odd one out against your peers. But the CADCA youth training in Indianapolis has empowered me to make a change in my community. I'm so grateful to have been given this opportunity,” said Kassandra Snyder, a rising senior from the Odessa-Montour Central School District. “It was a fun learning experience meeting other kids who are working for the same cause with all different motives” agreed Amber Updike, a rising 8th grader from the Watkins Glen Central School District.
At the training, SCCUDD members participated 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. The training covered 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 trainings we attended at CADCA’s 2015 Mid-Year will help us address the concerning levels of underage drinking and other drug use in Schuyler County” said Deborah Dalmat, SCCUDD Project Coordinator.
This year’s Mid-Year featured 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.
The mission of SCCUDD is to prevent, reduce and delay the onset of substance use among Schuyler County youth by collaborating with community partners, promoting prevention education and substance-free activities and implementing environmental strategies. SCCUDD’s vision is a connected community where youth have education, resources, and drug-free options to help their journey to become happy, healthy adults.
For more information, or to become involved with SCCUDD, visit SCCUDD online at www.schuylercounty.us/sccudd or follow SCCUDD on social media.