Substance Abuse Action Coalition History

The Substance Abuse Action Coalition was formed in 2002 as a response to the federal governments call for Prevention Coalitions.  Communities were granted funds to develop Coalitions and the activities that addressed four key objectives:

• Reducing the number of underage drinkers ages 12-17
• Increasing the age of onset
• Reducing use reported within the past 30 days
• Improving the risk/harm perceptions of substance use

Over 150 people were involved in the development of a three year plan to address these four elements and to acknowledge the equal importance of treatment and criminal justice issues as they related to substance abuse.  In 2005 the Prevention Coalition went from a relatively inactive community coalition with wide representation to 9 smaller very active neighborhood based coalitions. The Treatment Team began addressing significant systems change issues,  and the criminal justice teams devoted resources and energy to reducing the recidivating criminal behaviors of both youth and adults which result from substance abuse. 

Today over 200 people, from all sectors in the community, are very engaged in the SAAC 2006-2008 process.  The three teams are active and exciting and are, according to the data, beginning to make a difference.