This project is funded under a Grant Contract with the State of Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. The Monroe County Prevention & Wellness Coalition (PWC) is an alliance of organizations and people from all sectors of our community. For over a decade, the PWC has been effective in policy change, prevention programming, increased opportunities for positive health impact, and the overall reduction of risky behaviors. Although the priority of the PWC remains primary prevention, our work has had a positive impact throughout the community in many other ways. The PWC has several substances that we address: alcohol (underage use), nicotine, prescription drugs, opioids (illicit) and stimulants, and marijuana/THC/derivatives. Under those areas of focus are several initiatives and programs such as community events like 'Smash the Stigma' Community Water Balloon Fight and the DEA Drug Take Back Day, youth clubs in the schools, overdose prevention training where you learn how to use and receive naloxone, training for businesses, community education, free medication drop boxes, parental education (particularly with our Revealed: A Hidden World trailer), training for teachers/school admin/law enforcement, alcohol awareness training for servers/restaurants that sell alcohol, and youth substance misuse classes within our schools, Boys & Girls Club, and juvenile program. We also work closely with local law enforcement on compliance checks and saturation patrols.
