NC Voices for Prevention Heard on Capital Hill

On February 6th, a North Carolina delegation again descended upon Washington, D.C. to participate in CADCA’s Capital Hill Day.  Meetings were held with Senator Burr’s staff, Senator Hagan’s staff and U.S. Representative Mark Meadows (District 11). Our goal was simple – to ensure our elected representatives heard our voices as One Voice for Prevention.

We had well over two dozen people to pack into a conference room and talk substance abuse prevention with Senator Hagan’s Staff.  Shortly thereafter, another large group met with Senator Burr’s Staff.  The information was well received during both visits with the Senator’s representative assuring us that our concerns are shared by many on the Hill.

The focus was on three primary issues: the prevention of underage (and overage) drinking, the prevention of prescription drug abuse (among youth and our veterans), and the issue of medical marijuana.  To be successful in preventing problems, we requested:

•  either continued funding or an increase in the federal funding for the DFC, STOP Act, EUDL;
• assistance with collaboration among the DEA and the VA system to increase the take-back programs and to reduce prescription drugs in our communities;
• and to fully understand the need to prevent the legalization of marijuana in NC.

To underscore our issues, we reiterated that prevention IS health reform and to reduce future costs to us all, prevention must be properly funded and supported beginning at the federal level.  It was a strong showing of our ONE voice for prevention in North Carolina!

The Prevention Provider’s Association Policy and Advocacy Committee, Chaired by Jane Goble-Clark, worked with the NC PACC Coordinator, Tanya Roberts, to organize these visits for the North Carolina delegation.  It is through this successful collaboration that we were able to keep with tradition and make a strong, informed and passionate showing on the Hill.