Advocacy

COSA-NCADD provides leadership in public policy concerned with alcohol and other drug related issues. Activities of the legislature, state, and local agencies are closely monitored by COSA-NCADD to ensure comprehensive resources are available in prevention, education, and treatment. If you, your familiy or friends have had problems accessing treatment or utilizing benefits for substance abuse or menthal health services provided by your insurance carrier, call 1 - 800 - 762 - 3790

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Alliance Counteracting Alcohol and Tobacco Advertising Targeting Youth (ACATA)

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Alliance Counteracting Alcohol and Tobacco Advertising; Targeting Youth (ACATA) YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD

The Alliance Counteracting Alcohol and Tobacco Advertising Targeting Youth (ACATA) Youth Advisory Board was formed in March of 2000. The Youth Advisory Board (YAB) has been working diligently ever since on formulating a mission and organizing additional summits. The YAB chose a dual mission: (1) a media advocacy campaign encouraging their peers to avoid tobacco and alcohol and (2) a peer education initiative where they could teach 4th-6th grade students about the practices of the alcohol and tobacco industries.

The first step in putting this mission into action was to choose a curriculum. The Region 8 YAB was given the authority by the other region's boards to make this decision. After rejecting many curricula, the Region 8 YAB chose a lesson called "What's the Message?" from a curriculum by AGC/United Learning. The YAB then worked with representatives of AGC to add lessons on tobacco and alcohol and construct a curriculum to their specifications.

This curriculum then became the centerpiece of the 2001 Youth Summit, called "What's the Message?: The Youth Summit on Teen Smoking and Underage Drinking" held in March of 2001. At this gathering students from all over the state were introduced to the curriculum. Dr. Peter DeBenedittis was also brought in to teach the students about the tactics of the alcohol and tobacco industries. In addition, Professor Doug Kaback of Cal-State Northridge instructed the students in how to present skits related to the curriculum. The summit was a great success and was an excellent springboard for the campaign.

The statewide YAB have been trained further in the curriculum and conducted programs throughout the state this summer. Locations for these programs included YMCA & YMCA's, Churches, Boys & Girls Clubs, Summer Camps, and other places where youth gather.  Now that the school year has begun, many programs are being conducted for after school programs.  As the programs move forward, an outcome evaluation will be conducted to determine next steps.  

If you are interested in having a presentation provided for your group, please contact your local regional coordinator.

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Alliance Counteracting Alcohol and Tobacco Advertising; Targeting Youth (ACATA)
Eleven Regional Coordinators

Region 1
AREA (Lauderdale, Limestone, Colbert, Franklin, Lawrence and Morgan)
PARTNERSHIP DRUG-FREE COMMUNITY INC.
Deborah Soule/Suzette Mikell-Williams
312 Randolph Avenue
Huntsville, AL 35801

P.O. Box 2603
Huntsville, AL 35804
Phone: 256-539-7339
Fax: 256-539-7386
E-Mail: partner@hiwaay.net

Region 2
AREA (Madison, Jackson, Marshall, DeKalb, Etowah and Cherokee)
PARTNERSHIP DRUG-FREE COMMUNITY INC.
Deborah Soule/Suzette Mikell-Williams
312 Randolph Avenue
Huntsville, AL 35801

P.O. Box 2603
Huntsville, AL 35804
Phone: 256-539-7339
Fax: 256-539-7386
E-Mail: partner@hiwaay.net

Region 3
AREA (Fayette, Marion, Winston, Cullman, Lamar and Walker)
NORTHWEST ALABAMA MENTAL HEALTH CENTER
Belinda Miller
409 First St South East
Hamilton, AL 35570
Phone: 205-921-2186
Fax: 205-921-4740
April Miller
1100 7th Ave
Jasper, AL 35501
Phone: 205-302-9061
Fax: 205-221-5911
E-Mail: wiop@pepperlink.net

Region 4
AREA (Jefferson, St. Clair and Blount)
GATEWAY
Leslie Oskarsson
1401 South 20th Street
Birmingham, AL 35205
Phone: 205-510-2676
Fax: 205-714-9951
E-Mail: kmusgrove@gway.org or loskarsson@gway.org

Region 5
AREA (Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Bibb, Shelby, Perry and Chilton)
INDIAN RIVERS MENTAL HEALTH CENTER/INSIGHT CENTER
Jane Coleman/Veronica Richardson
3532 23rd Street
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

P.O. Box 2190
Tuscaloosa, AL 35403
Phone: 205-391-0132
Fax: 205-349-6486
E-Mail: coleman-owens@email.msn.com

Region 6 WTM AREA (Calhoun, Cleburne, Randolph, Talladega, Coosa and Clay)
LINC Program
Robin Mackey
265 Rucker Street
McClellan, AL 36205

P.O. Box 5072
McClellan, AL 36205
Phone: 256-820-5911
Fax: 256-847-0009
E-Mail: rmackey@hiwaay.net
www.LINCprogram.org

Region 7 WTM
AREA (Dallas, Greene, Marengo,Choctaw, Wilcox, Hale and Sumter)
Rebecca Smith
COUNCIL ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE-NCADD
828 Forest Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36106
Phone: 334-262-1629
Fax: 334-262-6725
E-Mail: csancadd@bellsouth.net

Region 8 WTM
AREA (Montgomery, Elmore, Lowndes, Autauga, Butler and Crenshaw)
COUNCIL ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE-NCADD
Char Jones / Beverly Johnson
828 Forest Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36106
Phone: 334-262-1629
Fax: 334-262-6725
E-Mail: csancadd@bellsouth.net

Region 9 WTM
AREA (Tallapoosa, Chambers, Lee, Macon, Russell, Bullock and Pike)
EAST ALABAMA MENTAL HEALTH RETARDATION CENTER
Kathy Molnar
2300 Center Hills Drive, Building 1
Opelika, AL 36801
Phone: 334-742-2112
Fax: 334-742-2107

Region 10
AREA (Mobile, Baldwin, Washington, Escambia, Clarke, Monroe and Conecuh)
DRUG EDUCATION COUNCIL, INC.
Vandlyn Pierre
954 Government Street
Mobile, AL 36604
Phone: 251-433-5456
Fax: 251-433-5457
E-Mail: www.drug.edu@mobilecan.org

Region 11 WTM
AREA (Houston, Geneva, Covington, Barbour, Dale, Henry and Coffee)
SPECTRACARE
Susie Kingry / Kelly Armstrong
191 South Oates Avenue
Dothan, AL 36301
Phone: 334-677-1156
Fax: 334-712-9262
E-Mail: susiek@spcare.com

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