COALITION TO BATTLE DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE

A new community initiative will help prevent local youth, adults and
families that are living in the foothills from falling into the ugly
grips of alcohol and drug addiction -- the West Foothills Drug and
Alcohol Coalition.

Formed in late 2006, the coalition is made up of representatives from
Black Diamond, Turner Valley, Longview, Eden Valley and the western
region of the MD of Foothills and will be working towards more
resilient communities by supporting healthy lifestyle choices for
youth, adults and families.

Although the coalition is still in the preliminary stages, Judy
Walbridge of AADAC High River hopes the group can make a difference
once the needs of the communities are assessed next fall.

"AADAC saw value in engaging other interested parties in the work that
we do to build strength and resilience in the community," said
Walbridge."We are just looking for direction in the coalition in
developing strategies to develop resilience and reduce the risks
associated with drugs and alcohol."

According to Walbridge, the idea of a drug and alcohol coalition was
initiated by a group of concerned citizens who met after 'Slaying the
Dragon' drug conference that was held in Black Diamond last September.

From there, the coalition evolved to include several communities in
the foothills region, along with AADAC, C. Ian McLaren School,
Oilfields High School students, Oilfields Hospital and the RCMP.

During the next few months, members of the coalition will be raising
awareness about the group and will be launching a community needs
assessment by holding a logo contest in local schools.

Students from Black Diamond, Longview, Millarville, Turner Valley and
Eden Valley are being encouraged to get on board with the coalition by
submitting their entries for the logo before April 30. Once a logo has
been selected, it will be used in future communications and activities.

"The idea is to get the word out, increase the profile and hopefully
expand the capacity of the work AADAC does in the region," said
Walbridge. "Addictions have many underlying causes.

The more protective factors we can put in place and the fewer risk
factors we allow to exist, the less likely we are to increase the need
for addiction services in the region."

A student survey will be conducted at the end of the school year. The
coalition plans to correlate those results over the summer with an
adult focus group in early October.