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The participation of citizens working towards a strategy to prevent and reduce the harms from alcohol and drugs is an indicator of awareness of and action on local issues. Tracking and disseminating the existence and work of community coalitions is important in sustaining efforts and attracting new momentum.
- Track the number of existing community coalitions in your local area.
- Track the funding given to community coalitions.
- ONDCP "Help Your Community" website allows you to search for local coalitions by ZIP Code.
- SAMHSA provides Drug-Free Communities grantee information for each state.
- The number of coalitions and amount of funding are indirect measures of community involvement in the drug and alcohol issue. Although they can be looked at in conjunction with other indicators such as self-reported use, taxes, advertising, and other indicators, they alone do not demonstrate changes in policy or activity.
Characteristics of a Successful Coalition
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Has a written strategic plan with measurable objectives to reduce, prevent, and treat substance use. |
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Disseminates a regular report detailing the community's strategy and the progress being made to reduce substance use. |
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Generates funding from diverse sources to fund general coalition-building activities. |
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Maintains stable participatory/governance bodies with representatives from a variety of community institutions to monitor and direct the coalition's activities. |
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Collaborates with local government officials and policy makers. |
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Makes efforts to change public policy that will reduce the harms from substance use. |
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Has a written strategic plan with measurable objectives to reduce, prevent, and treat substance use. |
 Print the checklist.
Join Together, Promising Strategies: Results of the Fourth National Survey on Community Efforts to Reduce Substance Abuse and Gun Violence, 1999.
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