Who We Are - Overview

Prevention and Policy Change

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Communities Against Substance Abuse and its community and youth partners use prevention and media advocacy strategies to change public and private policies regarding underage drinking, underage use of tobacco, and illicit drug abuse.

This ultimately changes community acceptance of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use (changing social norms), creates positive change in the environment in which we live, and thus decreases the level of problems resulting from the use of these substances.

Communities Against Substance Abuse continues to demonstrate ongoing dedication to community-based prevention and policy change:

	CASA's Inhalant Abuse Prevention Media Campaign in March 2000 resulted in the Drug/Violence Prevention Program of the State of California Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement to produce an inhalant prevention curricula to include in its training curriculum for law enforcement officers and community groups.
	As a result in part of a Methamphetamine Strike Force/CASA-driven media campaign to expand San Diego County's Drug Court program of therapeutic justice, the County of San Diego Board of Supervisors voted to expand Drug Courts to provide treatment to every non-violent drug offender in San Diego County.
	Piloted a regional youth alliance to advance underage drinking and illicit drug use prevention. Work with high school journalists and advisors on substance abuse and related problems. High school newspapers reported on issues from inhalant abuse, club drugs and safe and sober graduation.
	Communities Against Substance Abuse, working with the Methamphetamine Strike Force and County of San Diego District Attorney's Office, waged an aggressive media campaign to increase funding for California's Drug Endangered Children Program that removes children living in illicit drug-exposed environments. The media campaign created favorable public opinion that encouraged California State Legislators to approve increased funding for DEC.
	Communities Against Substance Abuse works successfully with businesses to establish drug-free workplace policies.