One Johns Creek will use its student-led, adult supported coalition to implement projects and initiatives to reduce meth, opioid, and prescription medication use while fostering a culture of wellness. - The One Johns Creek coalition targets youth ages 12-18 in Johns Creek, Georgia. Johns Creek is one of six cities in North Fulton County and ranked as the 10th largest city in Georgia. The 31 square-mile region has a population of 80,401 as of 2025 (US Census Bureau) and approximately 8,500 students in middle and high school (2025 Fulton County student enrollment data). The race and origin are as follows: White 46.6%, Asian 29.5%, Black or African American 10.4%, Two or more races 7%, and Hispanic or Latino 6.5%. The community is characterized by a thriving economic climate, above-average schools, bumper to bumper traffic, two-earner homes with an above-average median income of over $160,000 and a 30 to 45-minute commute to work. There are 3 public high and 3 public middle schools as well as privately funded schools serving the city’s student population. While the description of Johns Creek at first read appears to be an idyllic, indicative of minimal concern the reality is that substance misuse and its devastating impact knows no boundaries and is very much a part of the dynamics that are adversely impacting youth, young adults as well as older adults. With privilege comes disconnection as busy lives, diffused family structures, access to substances and demand for above-average performance equals an environment conducive to risky and self-soothing behaviors that too often lead to substance use/misuse and catastrophic circumstances. Johns Creek is an area of significant illegal drug use including methamphetamines with intent to distribute based on the socio-economic climate, highway infrastructure, and excess financial resources. Although the community is a resourced area with a large variety of substances available, there currently exists no comprehensive and connected system to address the issues surrounding methamphetamines, opioids and/or prescription drug misuse where students progress from taking legal prescriptions to illegal substance misuse and abuse patterns. One Johns Creek is and will continue to work together, avoiding duplication and siloed efforts, while focusing on data funneling and collection to be more effective and consistent, becoming a trauma-informed community of care, using a student-led, adult supported model that includes four teams 1) Events 2) Peer-to-Peer Education or High School teaching Middle School 3) Social Media Marketing and 4) Policy and Advocacy. Through a variety of initiative, awareness, outreach, and events led by students in collaboration with Fulton County Schools Thrive Ambassadors, OJC will work to reduce past 30-day use for methamphetamine, prescription drugs, and opioids. We will continue to implement Handle With Care further into Fulton County Schools, while building capacity, infrastructure, and collaboration with AC HIDTA and other law enforcement locally. The coalition will continue to emphasize protective factors for youth and minimize the risk factors associated with substance misuse for both youth and adults while promoting a community culture of health and wellness.
