South Western Oklahoma Development Authority (SWODA), the Kingfisher County Coalition and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) encourage communities to increase public awareness of, and action around, mental and substance use disorders.

“SAMHSA promotes prevention year-round by providing ideas, building capacity and sharing tools and resources to help individuals and communities make substance use prevention happen every day,” said Cheryl Megli, SWODA Coalition coordinator.

To encourage healthy decision-making and strengthen community, build resilience, and create hope, SWODA and the Kingfisher County Coalition are partnering with SAMHSA to educate, showcase local resources and raise awareness of mental and substance use disorders.

“This is an opportunity for us to join communities across the county to celebrate the positive impact that we can have on substance misuse prevention,” said Megli.

“Substance misuse prevention begins with each of us, and we all have the power to foster a healthier future for ourselves and those we care about.”

SAMHSA echoes a key message of the 2016 Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health: “We can shift the way society thinks about substance misuse and substance use disorders while identifying actions that individuals and communities can take to prevent and treat these conditions.”

For more information about SWODA and the Kingfisher County Coalition, contact Megli at cheryl@swoda.org or call 580.562.5004.