TOP PHOTO: The first coalition meeting, on Feb. 23, was very successful. There were 23 attendees from a diverse background.

By Kelli Hatmaker

JACKSBORO, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF) – Addiction, substance misuse, legal and illicit drugs. All an epidemic and all hard to talk about. It is no secret the country is suffering from this epidemic. The resources are strained. 

Prevention Alliance Tennessee is on a mission to establish an anti-drug coalition in every county in the state of Tennessee. Part of this mission is funding local organizations or community members passionate about starting and maintaining an anti- drug coalition. 

In communities across Tennessee, anti-drug coalitions are working to reduce dependence on harmful and potentially lethal substances such as prescription drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. Coalitions are typically made up of people who represent different sectors of the community – business, law enforcement, schools, local government, health, media, parents, youth, and the faith community, all working together to prevent and reduce youth substance use, including prescription drug abuse, within the community. To develop a comprehensive community-wide approach to substance abuse issues. Many communities realize that local drug problems require local solutions.

United Way of Campbell County has become one of those funded organizations. The United Way hit the ground running with this initiative. Kelli Hatmaker was hired as the coalition director. The first coalition meeting on Feb. 23. The name Campbell United was then decided on. 

The first coalition meeting was successful. There were 23 attendees from a diverse background. During the meeting the top repeated concerns for this community were:

1.Need for education. 

-Teacher education about vape pens 

-Parent education about vape pens and other substances

 -Narcan training 

-More Fentanyl education- Naloxone

-Overall community awareness

2. Mental health needs 

3. Additional treatment and recovery resources 

4. Generational cycle

5. Youth tobacco, marijuana, and vape use

The group is still in the planning stages for offering prevention programs that are designed to provide the education and support necessary to stop drug, alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other dependencies in the community. Substance misuse prevention has become an important first step in informing our children about the dangers of addiction and prevention methods. The goal of the anti-drug coalition is to “transform our state, one community at a time, and expand access to high-quality treatment and recovery support services.” 

Anyone interested in joining this coalition and being part of the change please contact Kelli Hatmaker, kelli@uwayac.org, for more information and upcoming meetings. Also please go follow the Facebook page @CampbellUnited. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 03/04/2022-6AM)