Join us for the National Prevention Summit, a transformative event co-hosted by the Drug Free America Foundation Inc. (DFAF) and the Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance (HCADA). The summit, scheduled for February 19-20th, 2024, at the beautiful Tradewinds Resort on St. Petersburg Beach, is poised to be a significant milestone in our ongoing mission to prevent substance abuse, increase access to treatment, and promote recovery services.
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At the heart of this summit lies a powerful vision — one where communities are empowered with knowledge, tools, and strategies to combat drug use and abuse effectively. Our goal is to heighten awareness about the devastating impact of drugs, reduce access, reshape social norms, and foster crucial discussions on prevailing policies. With a focus on implementing successful prevention strategies, we aim to equip communities with the means to advocate for sound drug policies.
Building upon the resounding success of our past ten summits, we eagerly anticipate the impact the 2024 event will create. Examine the different tracks available on the preliminary agenda provided here. If you’re interested in reserving a vendor table or becoming an event sponsor, please click here to explore the available options and contact Amy at aronshausen@dfaf.org.
New this year! We are excited to announce that we will have several sessions dedicated to reducing marijuana use during pregnancy and postpartum on February 19th. The sessions will identify new trends that make women vulnerable to use, discuss the endocannabinoid system and the relationship between marijuana and the impact to the female mind and body, and review the current research pertaining to addiction and parenting and effective ways to communicate safety and deterrence. Presented here is a flyer featuring the expert speakers for these sessions. We will also host a FREE community fireside chat that evening with a diverse group of experts and will be open to the public. Explore the details here and kindly distribute among your colleagues.
Back Again! We added a 1/2 day on February 21st for Florida coalitions and partners working in community-level prevention. Join us to network, share ideas, and strategize Florida prevention efforts. The day will be hosted by CCA, FCA, and DFAF and led by you! It is a free add-on to the summit that you can choose during the registration process.
Naloxone Narcan Awareness Training, provided at no cost, will be held on the evening of Tuesday, February 20. The session will be conducted by Dan Zsido, Drug Trends Educator and Naloxone Trainer. Learn more here.
Keynote Highlight
Dave Highman
Dave Higham, recovery champion and author of Rat Hell to Ray Park, is our opening keynote on Feb 19th. His manifesto for change – the Core Conditions for Recovery – continue to inspire and heal thousands. The first 100 people to register for the summit will receive a free copy of his book. 
Dr. Bertha Madras
Bertha Madras is Professor of Psychobiology, Harvard Medical School, and directs the Laboratory of Addiction Neurobiology at McLean Hospital. Her laboratory has focused on translational research, neurobiology of therapeutic and addictive substances, brain imaging, and medications development. Her laboratory discovered a class of compounds that are the most sensitive diagnostic imaging agents to detect Parkinson’s disease in living brain of patients. Using PET imaging, her research clarified drug mechanisms, abuse liability, and relationship between genotype and protein expression in living brain. Her current research focuses on the behavioral and molecular consequences of drugs introduced to adolescent primates, and whether these responses differ in adults. She is recipient of 19 U.S. and 27 international patents with collaborators. As an educator, Dr. Madras developed the first addictions course for HMS students and created the Cell Biology of Addiction Course at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. She directed the creation of a Museum exhibit, CD (“Changing your mind: Drugs in the Brain”, licensed by Disney), and play, with the Museum of Science, Boston. In public policy, Dr. Madras served as Deputy Director for Demand Reduction in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, a Presidential appointment confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate. In 2016, she served as a panelist at the Vatican Pontifical Academy of Sciences, “Narcotics: Problems and Solutions of this Global Issue” and in 2017, was appointed by President Trump to a 6-member Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis. She is recipient of an NIH MERIT award, NIDA Public Service Award, American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry Founders’ Award, and others. The Better World Report (2006) cited her brain imaging invention as “one of 25 technology transfer (university to industry) innovations that changed the world”.
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Our Generous Event Sponsors
