SAFE in Sag Harbor had a strong delegation of Pierson High School students representing their community at the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA)’s 17thannual mid-year training institute, held in Orlando the week of July 16. The five students—Graham DiLorenzo, Lucie Gardella, Kiarra Fuentes, Gaylin Davey, and Ava O'Shea and—joined nearly 2,000 substanceuse prevention and treatment specialists from around the world, gathered to find solutions to our community’s toughest substance use problems.
The students participated in the Youth Leadership sessions and training events, designed to help them become strong community leaders and change agents, addressing substance misuse on the East End.
“Attending the CADCA conference was an eye-opening opportunity to participate in activities with other students across the US who, like us want to improve our communities and reduce high risk decisions among our classmates. I look forward to applying some of the ideas that I brought home from the conference,” said Lucie Gardella, a Pierson High School student who attended the conference.
Also attending the conference were SAFE in Sag Harbor Project Coordinator Danielle Laibowitz and Program Director Kym Laube, youth intern Julia Russo,along with chaperone Jackie Aldrich.
“The four days of intensive training have armed us with new knowledge, skills, and strategies to continue to create environments in which Sag Harbor youth can thrive – healthy and drug-free,” said Danielle Laibowitz.
The conference 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, synthetic drug use and underage drinking.