In 2010, NCPC was awarded a National Exemplary Award for Innovative Substance Abuse Prevention Programs, Practices, and Policies by the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD) for its Countering Pro-Marijuana Influences project, which began in 2004 in partnership with the HARM Initiative (Health Advocates Rejecting Marijuana) in San Diego County.
As a result of this award, NCPC was invited to apply for the Service to Science (STS) Initiative. STS is a national initiative of the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) designed to enhance the evaluation capacity of local innovative programs and practices. NCPC was successful in its application and received evaluation technical assistance in 2012, and was awarded funding in 2013 to carry out an enhanced evaluation plan in partnership with California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) and Policy Solutions Group.