Organizations meet to fight against substance abuse

The Mat-Su Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition will hold a community planning session Sept. 30 to develop a strategy to combat substance abuse in the Mat-Su Valley.

This planning session will include members of other agencies including local law enforcement, the Valley Christian Conference, Boys and Girls Club, Peer Helpers, Mat-Su Health Services, and the Mat-Su Borough School District. These agencies will hold a discussion on the best way for the community to prevent substance abuse.

Natasha Pineda of United Way believes, “The best way to stop substance abuse is getting the community to work together.”

Much of the information in the discussion stems from the 2008 survey of 2,500 students in the Valley. The survey includes statistics of substance abuse for students in the target grades of 7, 9 and 11.

The meeting will take place at the Central Mat-Su Public Safety Building from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The meeting is open to any community member interested.

Contact Lanier Hutcheson at lanier.hutch-eson@frontiersman.com.