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Members:
Dan Ward, Chairman
Denise Morin, Vice Chairman
Officer John Webber, Secretary
Chief Robert Wharem
Selectman, Larry Konopka
James Maestranzi, Pittsfield Youth Workshop
View
Meeting Minutes | July 2008 Press
Release
Mission Statement
The
mission of the Pittsfield Drug and Alcohol Coalition (PDAC) is
to provide a healthier Pittsfield Community by reducing
substance abuse, underage drinking and alcohol
addictions. These initiative must be sustained through
collaborative community involvement by
providing prevention information, intervention solutions
and treatment efforts that will promote positive
behaviors which will measurably improve the health and
well being for our youth, families and citizens.
Definition of a Coalition
“A coalition is a formal agreement and collaboration
between groups or sectors of a community in which each
group retains its identity but will agree to work
together toward a common goal of building a safe,
healthy and drug-free community.”
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA )
The Pittsfield Drug and Alcohol Coalition continues to
work collaboratively with the Pittsfield Community
Coalition, the Pittsfield Youth Workshop, the Pittsfield
School District and the Pittsfield Police Department by
co sponsoring Community Forums called What are our
kids telling us? The forums will be highlighting
information recently released from the Youth Risk
Behavior Survey (YRBS) that was conducted at the PMHS by
186 students in grades 9-12 in February of 2007.
The first Community Forum was conducted on May 22nd
from 6-8 pm at the Pittsfield Community Center. Food
was provided and will be provided at each of the three
remaining forums as well as a free door prize raffle for
all who stayed until the end of the forum. The May forum
focused on Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs. Moderator
Jeff Martel from PMHS led a panel of subject matter
experts in a guided discussion with parents, town
resident and students concerning the risky behavior
trends that the students at PMHS are facing. A second
Community Forum, What are our kids telling us? will be
held on Thursday, June 5th at the Pittsfield Community
Center from 6-8 pm. The subject of the 2nd Forum from
the YRBS survey will be Mental Health, Wellness, and
Sexuality. Two additional Community Forums will also be
conducted later in the summer.
The PDAC in conjunction with the Concord Substance Abuse
Coalition is also continuing to work on the Strategic
Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant (SPF SIG). A
community wide assessment will be kicking off very
soon. The assessment will be gathering information
relating to substance abuse issues in Pittsfield with a
primary focus on binge drinking in the 17 to 34 year old
population.
What can you do to help?
Substance abuse and its effects on our community is a
very important issue that cannot go unnoticed or unfelt
by any of us. We all experience the effects of
substance abuse in our community in some manner. Our
community needs a united voice and joint commitment to
provide collaborative prevention, intervention and
treatment services for a reduction of substance abuse
among our citizens. Pittsfield has a lot to offer
related to volunteers and interested individuals. We
believe that ALL of us working together can bridge
existing gaps in services, identify needs and develop
new ideas and programs that will reduce substance use,
strengthen our community and the futures of our
children… SO WHY AREN’T YOU A MEMBER OF THE PDAC? We
need you help…your community needs your help! PDAC
meets on the 2nd and 4th Monday each month at the
Pittsfield Youth Work Shop in downtown Pittsfield from
7-8 pm. For further information, call Dan Ward Chairman
of the Pittsfield Drug and Alcohol Coalition at
435-5285
This article was submitted by Dan Ward. Mr. Ward works
as a Drug Demand Reduction Specialist for the New
Hampshire National Guard Counter Drug Task Force at the
Makin It Happen Coalition in Manchester NH and he is the
Chairman of the Pittsfield Alcohol and Drug Coalition (PDAC)
For more information, please contact Dan Ward
d.ward1358@yahoo.com
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