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PREVENT! The Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Clark County, a community coalition based out of Educational Service District 112 and the recipient of a $500,000 Drug Free Communities (DFC) Grant, was one of 20 coalitions across the country to receive an additional $150,000 DFC Mentorship Grant from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to expand their prevention efforts.

The additional grant money will allow PREVENT! to mentor the Clark County Drug Action Team (CDAT) to implement the DFC framework and garner funds for the Hazel Dell community, potentially $1.25 million to combat substance abuse over the next 10 years in Hazel Dell.

“The Drug Free Communities program recognizes the great potential of PREVENT! to help save lives of youth. “This new funding will allow PREVENT! to mobilize and organize their community to prevent and reduce youth substance use.” ONDCP Director Gil Kerlikowske said.

The Clark County Drug Action Team was formed in 2001 to address the county’s meth epidemic. As the mentee coalition, CDAT will receive training and support from PREVENT! with the goal that CDAT will secure its own DFC funding. Data show that CDAT has contributed to the reduction of meth labs and meth use in Clark County.

“Receiving the grant is a testament to the great work PREVENT! is doing and to the outstanding foundation CDAT has built over a decade of working successfully on meth-related issues. I am excited to see both PREVENT! and CDAT grow and expand with these new resources!” said PREVENT! director, Sondra Storm.

PREVENT! is a coalition of active citizens and community organizations working together toward a common goal of building a healthy, safe, and drug-free community in Clark County, Washington.

Since receiving the DFC Grant in 2007, PREVENT!’s strategic outreach has resulted in a 500% membership increase, bringing its current membership to over 200 members. Some recent successes include:
• PREVENT!’s Ads and Subtract Project helped to significantly reduce alcohol ads in Clark County. PREVENT! volunteers systematically assessed stores in Clark County to determine the number, type, content and placement of alcohol and tobacco ads. Participants worked with store owners to reduce ads and successfully urged the Liquor Control Board to adopt tighter restrictions on advertisements. Stores with more than ten ads outside were reduced from 38% of stores in 2008 to 0 stores with more than 10 ads outside in 2010. Stores with more than 5 ads were reduced from 62% of stores in 2008 to 31% of stores that had more than 5 ads outside in 2010.
• PREVENT! and CDAT have worked together to pass a local ordinance banning the sales of drug paraphernalia (glass pipes, bongs) in stores that minors can enter. The Clark County Commissioners have requested ordinance language to be drafted. With over 200 community members, organizations and businesses who have indicated their support, PREVENT! is hopeful the ordinance will pass.
• PREVENT! developed Rx for Prevention, a training module that is being administered by medical professionals in three hospital systems, Vancouver Police and Clark County Sheriff’s Office, numerous school professionals, and youth leaders. PREVENT! promotes the safe disposal of prescription drugs in cooperation with the Sheriff’s office, which allows any prescription drugs, including controlled substances, to be returned to any Sheriff’s precinct during business hours. PREVENT! has also hosted three DEA sponsored Prescription Drug Take-back days where thousands of pounds of medical waste has been collected.
• PREVENT! often works with schools to host events including town halls and parent awareness nights. PREVENT! worked with the schools to support the development of eight youth prevention clubs. These vibrant clubs are comprised of youth who conduct prevention with their peers and work to improve their school environments. PREVENT! has hosted over 30 school-based events working with youth to design activities to fit their school’s needs.

For more information about PREVENT!, please contact Sondra Storm, Drug Free Communities Coordinator, sondra.storm@esd112.org.

~Jodi Thomas, ESD 112
Public Information Coordinator