COLUMBUS — A 30-year old nonprofit dedicated to preventing substance misuse across the state — including working with groups in Clinton County — announced that it has expanded its role in protecting communities and youth.
Columbus-based Drug Free Action Alliance will now be known as Prevention Action Alliance, a move that underscores its new mission – leading healthy communities in the prevention of substance misuse and the promotion of mental health wellness.
“Now, more than ever, we need comprehensive, prevention solutions to the opiate epidemic,” said Marcie Seidel, Executive Director, Prevention Action Alliance. “It’s vitally important to educate children and parents on the dangers of misusing substances, but it’s just as important to build a healthy, safe community so our youth aren’t polluted by their surroundings and turn towards drugs.”
“Similarly, we can’t allow our youth to be polluted from the inside,” Seidel continued. “By educating about and promoting mental health wellness, we can nurture our youth and prevent substance misuse later in life.”
At the same time, Seidel said the agency will move to a new location in Columbus at 6171 Huntley Road, Suite G. There, the agency will have access to a training room to aid and better serve those working in prevention.
Prevention Action Alliance began 30 years ago as the Ohio Association of Parents for Drug-Free Youth, according to Seidel.
“Everyone has a role in prevention now,” Seidel said. “We’ve learned that over the years, and have expanded to work with parents, teachers, youth, faith leaders, and those who have lost a loved one to the opiate epidemic as well as many college campuses and community coalitions.”
Prevention Action Alliance is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Columbus, working to lead healthy communities to prevent substance misuse and promote mental health wellness.
Prevention Action Alliance offers a number of programs and networks to encourage prevention across the state and nationally, including Know!, Parents Who Host Lose The Most: Don’t Be A Party To Teenage Drinking, SMART Bet, the Statewide Prevention Coalition Association, The GAP Network, the Ohio College Initiative to Enhance Student Wellness, and the Ohio Youth-Led Prevention Network.
For more information, visit www.PreventionActionAlliance.org.
