PCSO donates $50K to anti-meth coalition

The MASH Anti-Substance Abuse Coalition is among six agencies that are receiving assistance from the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office.

PCSO, a member of the Pinal County Anti-Meth Coalition, recently gave $50,000 in RICO funds to area agencies to help build their anti-meth programs through education, treatment and prevention.

“We are dedicated to fighting the effects of meth in communities, partly through helping form their own programs throughout the county,” said Sheriff Chris Vasquez. “The more programs available, the more we are equipped in combating the problem.”

The MASH Anti-Substance Abuse Coalition is funding public information and social marketing.

“We have been successful in informing the community and helping them realize that there is somewhere they can go to make a difference and come together,” said MASH Coalition Coordinator Firouzeh Dittmar.

The remaining five agencies awarded funds are the Adelante Juntos Coalition, Casa Grande Alliance, Coolidge Youth Coalition, Eloy Governor’s Alliance Against Drugs and Superior Substance Abuse Coalition.

The Adelante Juntos Coalition is using the funds to implement a Neighborhood Meth Watch Project, to recruit and coordinate participant neighborhoods and nominate neighborhood leaders, and to conduct quarterly block meetings for progress reporting and recognition of neighborhood achievements.

Superior Substance Abuse Coalition is implementing a program logic model, conducting town hall meetings and hosting an art contest.

“A project we are conducting with the school is a voluntary drug-testing program. Each student who participates will receive a certificate of being drug free each year,” said Paul Licano, head of the SSAC. “By the time they graduate, they could have four certificates. If they apply at any of our local employers, this would give them bonus points, such as Veteran’s receive.”

With its funds, the Casa Grande Alliance is developing a Casa Grande Youth Coalition to be part of the CGA, training and educating students in key prevention concepts and information and implementing a student-driven anti-meth communication and activity plan for campus and community.

The Coolidge Youth Coalition is using funds for prevention, community education and awareness and capacity building. Eloy Governor’s Alliance Against Drugs is using funds to plan, organize and implement an anti-meth town hall community meeting and public
awareness campaign.

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