About

DFA serves the communities of: Alton, Godfrey, Cottage Hills, and Brighton (Alton School District #11 area). DFA is funded by a Drug Free Communities Grant Support Program from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This grant program provided the coalition with 5 years of funding at approximately $100,000.00 per year since 2005. The money is used to accomplish the following goals:

1. Establish and strengthen collaboration among DFA's partner organizations in support of the community's effort to prevent and reduce substance use among youth
2. Reduce substance use among youth in the Alton area, and over time, reduce substance abuse among adults by addressing the community issues that increase the risk
of substance abuse and promoting the factors that minimize the risk of substance abuse.

Substance abuse affects entire families and communities! The coalition is working towards accomplishing its goals by:

1. Building relationships with community members and leaders
2. Encouraging and promoting community participation and leadership with DFA
3. Addressing how and where youth are getting alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs from in the community
4. Reviewing city ordinances and school policies related to alcohol, tobacco, and other drug related issues
5. Strengthening the expression of the community norm against underage drinking and underage drinking parties
6. Providing support for local safe, drug-free, family and youth friendly events
7. Helping people understand the risks involved with alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, especially among youth
8. Cleaning up the Alton area and making it more difficult for drug dealers to sell drugs