Communities
NCAPDA is aware of other individual organizations throughout the country working at a grassroots level in their communities to build awareness about the dangers of prescription drug abuse. We strongly believe that we can be more affective by joining forces and working together to address global issues. We can learn from each other, share information and best practices and work together to develop professional quality educational tools. These can be used to send consistent, effective messages throughout the country about the dangers of prescription drugs.
Members of NCAPDA's staff are available to counsel and support individuals or groups who want to heighten awareness of prescription drug abuse in their local communities. Following are specific steps you can take to build an awareness campaign in your own community.
Please contact us for more details, to answer questions you have or to request that members of our speaker's bureau participate in an awareness activity in your community.
1. Find and partner with other community members who are concerned about prescription drug abuse/misuse.
2. Identify existing resources in your community you can request support from, starting with these:
- Police Department
- Area medical and dental providers
- Agencies focused on Drug and Alcohol education and support
- Marriage and Family Counseling Centers specializing in substance abuse support
- Pain Management specialists
- Pharmacies serving as drop off centers for unused and expired prescription drugs
- Library
- Community service organizations, such as Rotary, Kiwanis and Soroptimist International
- Educators, from middle school through college
- City/town leaders and administrators
- Area political representatives
- Local business owners
- Local media, on-line, newspaper, radio and television
3. Network with the resources that are most supportive and strategize about awareness campaign opportunities.
4. Contact CADCA if you're interested in establishing a non-profit agency or coalition that's focused on prescription drug abuse. Request brochures and other information from them to help establish your group and link it to NCAPDA.
5. If your town/city doesn't have any or enough prescription drug drop off sites, work with your local police department to establish them.
6. Work with local resources to ensure that prescription drug abuse education is included in Red Ribbon Week activities in your city/town.
7. Help coordinate and/or participate in local parent/student education events. Request participation in these from members of our speaker's bureau by submitting our service request form.
8. Request discussion points and available sample materials from NCAPDA for use in your awareness campaign or you can download our awareness tools.
9. Conduct local youth-oriented contests, video, poster, T-shirt, etc., to engage students and generate awareness.
10. Connect and work with your local and federal legpslative representatives to educate them about the prescription drug abuse epidemic and stimulate and support legislative action that can make a difference.
