ASAP’s Strutner named 2016 Advocate of Year by anti-drug coalition

Award recognizes individuals who are exceptional advocates for drug prevention field

Stephanie Strutner has been named the 2016 Advocate of the Year by Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, or CADCA, the nation’s leading substance abuse prevention organization.

Strutner, executive director of Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County, accepted the award on Thursday, February 4, during CADCA’s 26th annual National Leadership Forum. The forum was at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.

CADCA represents more than 5,000 community anti-drug coalitions across the country.

The Advocate of the Year award recognizes substance abuse prevention leaders who are exceptional advocates in the field, forge relationships and educate their elected officials throughout the year about key substance abuse-related issues, and help to ensure that members of Congress understand the importance of community coalitions.

Strutner has worked in the field of prevention for more than 10 years.

“CADCA is thrilled to be able to recognize Strutner this year at our most important training event,” said Arthur T. Dean, CADCA’s chairman and chief executive officer. “Strutner is a tireless advocate for the substance abuse prevention field, and her efforts have made a tremendous national impact,”

“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 said.

Strutner was selected for this award for her efforts in advocating for policies related to reducing prescription drug abuse in Tennessee and for working with Senator Lamar Alexander’s staff to provide information on the importance of substance abuse-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 abuse prevention and treatment professionals and researchers, featuring more than 80 training courses to help community and state leaders prevent and reduce substance abuse and its related problems, the press release said. 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 abuse and violence problems, and to hear from the country’s leading experts on drug prevention, treatment and recovery.

For more information about ASAP of Anderson County, visit www.ASAPofAnderson.org.

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