In partnership with the Florida Coalition Alliance and Community Coalition Alliance, Drug Free America Foundation hosted the 2023 Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Advocacy Day at the Florida Capitol. This year was the largest group in attendance, with about 100 adults and 50 youth from across the state! We had the pleasure of meeting together the day prior to discuss talking points and role play at the National Guard Armory in Tallahassee. Following this session, we gathered for a pre-game and networking event featuring Doug Simon, Director of Office of Drug Control, FL Governor’s Office of Drug Control, and Senator Gayle Harrell, who DFAF awarded the Calvina Fay Moxie Award for her relentless work in advocating for sound drug policies.
As we spent the day visiting legislative offices, we wore the winning red t-shirt designed by a Hernando county teen as part of a youth t-shirt contest for advocacy day. Our “sea of red” allowed us to stand out in the halls of the capitol and show a real presence of partners in prevention, treatment, and recovery. Our 17 groups met with legislators and their staffers to educate about the increased availability of delta-8 products sold in our state, raise awareness to create equity in behavioral health, and advance strategies to reduce marijuana use during pregnancy.
