Each year, NCADD Affiliates and others convene at the Conference of Affiliates for three days of training, networking and socializing. The 2013 Conference will be held October 23-25 at the Hilton Arlington Ballston in Arlington, VA and will have a strong public policy and advocacy component, including an event on Capitol Hill.

The 2012 NCADD Conference theme was "One Message:  One Voice" and was planned as a working Conference to develop key messages, obtain advocacy skills, and plan next steps for when we reconvene in the Washington, DC next year.  In the coming months, we will begin applying the skills and knowledge gained to develop an advocacy day in the Nation's Capitol.

The first session, facilitated by Lisa Kaichen was titled "Crafting Key Messages."   The six breakout groups agreed that key messages should be Simple, Short, Clear, Engaging, Compelling, and Surprising!   After working in groups, the participants agreed on the following message:  “National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Providing solutions to American’s #1 Health Problem.   We know that prevention works.  Treatment works.   Recovery works.”  Attendees broke into four workgroups and each focused on the development of research to document support for each statement in the key messages:  1. #1 Health Problem, 2. Prevention Works, 3. Treatment Works and 4. Recovery Works.