The Council On Alcohol & Drugs Inc

THE COUNCIL'S MISSION: WE CHANGE LIVES BY EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES TO PREVENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ITS RELATED PROBLEMS AT HOME, SCHOOL AND WORK WITH PROVEN, PRACTICAL RESOURCES, PREVENTION EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY. THEIR VISION IS TO BE THE PREMIER RESOURCE FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION AND EDUCATION: CHANGING LIVES, SAVING FUTURES.

SINCE 1996, THE COUNCIL'S NATIONALLY AWARD-WINNING DRUGS DON'T WORK IN GEORGIA PROGRAM HAS BEEN ASSISTING COMPANIES IN ACHIEVING DRUG-FREE CERTIFICATION. STATE-CERTIFIED DRUG FREE WORKPLACES IN GEORGIA RECEIVE A STATE MANDATED 7.5% DISCOUNT ON WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE. EMPLOYEES OF STATE CERTIFIED DRUG FREE WORKPLACES RECEIVE STATE MANDATED DRUG PREVENTION INFORMATION AND EDUCATION ANNUALLY. THIS IS DRUG EDUCATION DELIVERED TO A "CAPTIVE AUDIENCE" THAT WORKING PARENTS CAN TAKE HOME AND SHARE WITH THEIR CHILDREN. EMPLOYEES OF CERTIFIED DRUG FREE WORKPLACES ARE ALSO SUBJECTED TO DRUG TESTING IN THE WORKPLACE. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS PROVEN THAT DRUG TESTING AT WORK IS A DETERRENT TO DRUG USE. EMPLOYEES OF CERTIFIED DRUG FREE WORKPLACES RECEIVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT EITHER THROUGH WORKPLACE BASED EAP (EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS), OR THROUGH A LIST OF TREATMENT AND COUNSELING CENTERS MADE AVAILABLE BY THEIR EMPLOYER.

THE GEORGIA PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION INITIATIVE (GPDAPI) FOCUSED ON FOUR PRIORITY AREAS AND 11 OBJECTIVES TO PREVENT AND REDUCE PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE IN GEORGIA IN FY23. THESE FOUR AREAS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY'S PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION PLAN.THE FOUR PRIORITY AREAS ARE PREVENTION EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, SECURE DISPOSAL, AND SAFE STORAGE. THE FIRST STEP IN TACKLING THE PROBLEM OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE WAS PROVIDING PREVENTION EDUCATION TO GEORGIA'S PARENTS, YOUTH, THE GENERAL PUBLIC, PHYSICIANS, PHARMACISTS, CARETAKERS, AND OTHERS ABOUT THE DANGERS OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE AND THE APPROPRIATE AND SAFE USE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. BY ENCOURAGING CONVENIENT AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE PRESCRIPTION DRUG DISPOSAL, ALONG WITH SAFE STORAGE PROGRAMS IN GEORGIA, THE ACCESS, AND SUPPLY OF UNUSED AND EXPIRED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS WAS DECREASE IN HOMES ACROSS GEORGIA. THE DECREASE IN ACCESS AND SUPPLY CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE OVER 240 DRUG DROP BOXES, THE DISPERSION OF WELL OVER 1,000 MEDICINE SAFES, AND OVER 500 HOURS OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND DIRECT TRAINING. THE COUNCIL STAFF ARE ALSO COMMITTED TO PROMOTING INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE AS A BEST PRACTICE PROVEN TO PREVENT AND REDUCE PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE.LASTLY, THE COUNCIL STAFF CONTINUES TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT THROUGH COLLABORATION. COLLABORATION THROUGH PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE REGARDING DRUG DROP BOXES, PROMOTING PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION EDUCATION, AND SUPPORT FOR ELIMINATION OF IMPROPER PRESCRIBING PRACTICES, "PILL MILLS,X AND "DOCTOR SHOPPERS."

IN FY23 THE DFW DIVISION CONTINUED WORKING TO INCREASE REVENUE. STAFF MEMBERS FOCUSED ON RETAINING MEMBERS WHILE SOLICITING NEW DRUG FREE WORKPLACE MEMBERSHIPS AND INCREASING DRUG TESTING SALES. AS A RESULT OF THESE EFFORTS, THE DIVISION FINISHED THE YEAR WITH A NET INCOME SURPLUS OF $447,553.