The Five Moms team is proud to announce that our own Becky Dyer presented at the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s (CADCA) 23^rd Annual National Leadership Forum (February 4-7) in National Harbor, Md., just outside of Washington, D.C. CADCA’s Forum, which was held in conjunction with the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) 9^th Annual Prevention Day, is the nation’s largest meeting for community prevention leaders, treatment professionals and researchers. This year’s theme, “Coalitions: Science, Strategies, and Solutions,” emphasized the importance of developing broad-based strategic allegiances, implementing proven and promising strategies, and achieving population-level change.

Becky joined a CHPA and CADCA co-hosted workshop titled, “Engaging the Community to Address Medicine Abuse,” on the last day of the forum.  During her presentation, Becky described how the hospitalization of two thirteen-year-old girls who overdosed on over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine in her community first brought this important issue to her attention and how it lead to her involvement with the Five Moms initiative. As a police officer with experience as a former D.A.R.E and school resource officer in Reno County, Kan., Becky emphasized the importance of partnering with local law enforcement, anti-drug coalitions and community groups to help prevent OTC cough medicine abuse in our communities. More specifically, she provided valuable insights for participants about how to use these partnerships to host town hall meetings and educate community members about the dangers of OTC cough medicine abuse among teens. At the end of the presentation, participants engaged with Becky to further discuss these partnerships and town hall events.

Join us in commending Becky for giving an important and wonderful presentation!