The Coalition

Since its formation in 2003, the Marshall County Anti-Drug Coalition has been committed to implementing comprehensive, long-term strategies to reduce substance abuse among Marshall County residents, particularly youth. In an effort to ensure that those strategies implemented would meet the needs of local residents, the West Virginia Prevention Resource Center conducted a substance abuse community readiness assessment throughout Marshall County on the coalition’s behalf in 2006. The results of that assessment indicated that Marshall County residents were vaguely aware of the substance abuse problems that plague our community. Therefore, the coalition decided that it would work to raise awareness of Marshall County’s tobacco use, marijuana use, and alcohol abuse issues.

In order to specifically raise awareness about our community’s alcohol use and abuse problems, the Marshall County Anti-Drug Coalition has sponsored several events and activities, including Family Dinner nights, a Red Ribbon Week Poster Contest, Coptails – an event to reduce drunk and drugged driving, an alcohol-free Prom campaign, and town hall meetings concerning underage drinking. In addition, the coalition has worked with the Marshall County Youth in Action Team, which is primarily composed of the members of the Cameron High School SADD Chapter and the John Marshall High School SADD Chapter, to implement Project Sticker Shock and to recognize local law enforcement officers for their efforts in reducing underage drinking. The coalition has also provided local alcohol salespeople with responsible beverage sales training. Each of these events and activities have been a great success, and they would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the members of the Marshall County Anti-Drug Coalition, the support of the local business community and local schools, and, of course, the support of Marshall County residents.