Capitol Hill Rally Planned Feb. 10

New York Times bestselling author and 20-year showbiz veteran Christopher Kennedy Lawford will play one of his most dynamic roles not as an actor, but as an advocate for drug abuse issues with more than 2,500 substance abuse prevention and treatment specialists from throughout the country Wednesday. Lawford’s remarks will take place during a Capitol Hill Rally, part of Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA)’s 20th Annual National Leadership Forum, being held Feb. 8-11, 2010. The rally will take place at Noon on Wednesday, Feb. 10 outside of the Capitol building.

The first-born child of President John F. Kennedy’s sister, Patricia, and famous Rat Pack actor, Peter Lawford, Christopher Kennedy Lawford spent his early teen years experimenting with drugs. Sober for more than 24 years, Lawford shared his inspirational personal story in his memoir Symptoms of Withdrawal: A Memoir of Snapshots and Redemption, which became a New York Times Bestseller. His next book, Moments of Clarity: Voices from the Front Lines of Addiction and Recovery, released last year, is a series of essays by public figures, athletes and entertainers who have struggled with drug and alcohol addiction.

“Mr. Lawford is proof that drug and alcohol addiction can affect even the most privileged of families. His story can teach us all, especially our lawmakers, that recovery is possible and of the importance of drug use prevention, treatment and recovery services,” said CADCA Chairman and CEO Gen. Arthur Dean.

During the rally, drug and underage drinking prevention advocates from around the country will stress the importance of substance abuse prevention and urge Congress to continue to fund the Drug Free Communities (DFC) Program at the highest level possible. The DFC program provides funding to more than 700 community coalitions located throughout the country and U.S. territories. DFC coalitions assess their local community’s substance abuse problem, use that data to develop comprehensive community-wide prevention strategies and track their progress over time.

Other participants of the rally include: Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR); Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), one of the nation’s leading champions for substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery; Judy Cushing, President & CEO of Oregon Partnership; and Allana Chittick, with the Illinois-based Coalition Against Methamphetamine Abuse.

Capitol Hill Day kicks off at 9 a.m. with a Capitol Hill Plenary session, where participants will hear from several other key lawmakers and champions for the substance abuse field, including invited speaker Vice President Joseph Biden; Congresswomen Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA); Congressmen Danny K. Davis (D-IL) and Sander Levin (D-MI); and Sue Thau, CADCA’s Public Policy Consultant.

Following the Capitol Hill Rally, prevention activists will meet with members of their local congressional delegation to educate them about the effectiveness of substance abuse prevention. Finally, the day ends with a reception where CADCA will present awards to Senators Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT).