Stephanie Strutner has been named the 2016 Advocate of the Year by Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), the nation’s leading
substance misuse prevention organization representing over 5,000 community anti-drug coalitions across the country. She accepted the award on Thursday, Feb. 4 during CADCA’s 26th annual National Leadership Forum at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.
This award recognizes substance misuse prevention leaders who are exceptional advocates for our field, forging relationships and educating their elected officials throughout the year about key substance misuse-related issues and helping to ensure that Members of Congress understand the importance of community coalitions.
Strutner is the Executive Director of Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County, Tennessee. She has worked in the field of prevention for over ten years.
“CADCA is thrilled to be able to recognize Strutner this year at our most important training event. Strutner is a tireless advocate for the substance misuse prevention field and her efforts have made a tremendous national impact,” said CADCA’s Chairman and CEO, Gen. Arthur T. Dean.
“I am honored to be awarded as CADCA’s Advocate of the Year, but more importantly, thankful for the opportunity to provide valuable information to our elected officials which enables them to make informed decisions that improve the health and safety of our communities.”
Strutner was selected for this award for her efforts in advocating for policies related to reducing prescription drug misuse in Tennessee and for working with Senator Alexander’s staff to provide information on the importance of substance misuse-specific language related to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which was included in the Act for the first time last year.
CADCA’s National Leadership Forum is the nation’s largest training for substance misuse prevention and treatment professionals and researchers, featuring more than 80 training courses to help community and state leaders prevent and reduce substance misuse and its related problems. The event, which brings together more than 2,500 community and state leaders, offers participants an opportunity to learn effective strategies to solve their community’s substance misuse and violence problems, and to hear from the country’s leading experts on drug prevention, treatment and recovery.
