The ACTION (Active Coalition That Influences Outcomes in this Neighborhood) Drug Free Communities Coalition to prevent youth substance use in the City of Detroit's 48219 zip code - A major component to address youth substance use is involving youth, since it is the most effective method for servicing and reaching youth. The entire ACTION objective is about ambassadorship and involving youth in the activities. For example, in their own PSA’s and their own graphics using their own photography to make it their own. We utilize coalition resources to allow children and youth to make their own campaigns regarding what they need most. The ACTION coalition uses these approaches because prevention education shows that drug education is not just for teachers or drug-free advocates and counselors. Everyone can benefit from acquiring new knowledge. The Coalition serves Detroit’s 48219 zip code, Michigan, a community of 45,503. The ACTION Coalition’s target population is the 8,393 youth (ages 5 to 19) who reside in the 48219 zip code in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. This entails youth ages 5 to 19, so youth who are elementary, middle, and high school age. This includes the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) and Old Redford Academy School District.
The goals of the coalition are to establish and strengthen community collaboration in support of local efforts to prevent youth substance use. Objectives with respective goals are as follows.
DFC Goal One: Establish and strengthen collaboration among community stakeholders and organizations to address youth substance use.
Objective 1: By September 30, 2023, increase coalition capacity (quality and quantity) to address community substance use prevention by 10% from year 1 baseline as measured by coalition inventory effectiveness assessment, coalition members’ monthly benchmark observations, and physical documentation of all coalition efforts (i.e., news articles, flyers, meeting notes).
DFC Goal Two: Reduce substance use among youth and, over time, reduce substance use among adults by addressing the factors in a community that increases the risk of substance use and promoting the factors that minimize the risk of substance use.
Objective 2: By September 30, 2023, increase parental and peer disapproval of youth using substances by 10% of baseline (needs assessment in 2016) as measured by the four core measures survey.
Objective 3: By September 30, 2023, decrease the amount of youth using substances in the past 30 days by 10% of baseline (needs assessment in 2016) as measured by the four core measures survey.
The coalition will achieve its goals by implementing the following strategies, which provide information and support, enhance skills and access, change consequences and physical design, and educate/modify policy change: public presentations, youth-led mural project for drug prevention messaging, Hidden in Plain Sight virtual exhibit, Youth Drug Prevention Summit, other annual special events, and media campaigns. These strategies strengthen the coalition and reduce youth substance abuse – they serve as protective factors to counteract the many risk factors and negative influences youth in 48219 experience.
