Bringing scientists and community leaders together to see how research-based drug abuse strategies and programs can be implemented in the community is the thrust of NIDA's National Conference on Drug Abuse Prevention Research: Putting Research to Work for the Community to be held September 19-20, 1996, in Washington, D.C.
The conference is being held in response to increases in illicit drug use reported in NIDA's 1995 Monitoring the Future study. It will present principles of drug abuse prevention found to be effective in research and ready for application in the community.
Parents, educators, civic leaders, policymakers, prevention practitioners, law enforcement professionals, and representatives from Federal, State, and local agencies will want to attend this conference to actively explore these prevention efforts with senior scientists and to share their concerns and other issues. Some primary issues to be discussed include:
- How can communities assess their level of risk for drug use and abuse?
- How can communities judge the effectiveness of current prevention efforts?
- What are the essential elements in successful drug prevention programs?
- What kind of help do communities need to implement new and effective programs?
NIDA Director Dr. Alan I. Leshner will open the conference and lead the discussion. Among those invited to address the conference are Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Donna E. Shalala and General Barry McCaffrey, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.