Week 18: Reducing Drug Use and Building a Healthier America
Illegal drug use costs the U.S. more than $193 billion per year and students who use drugs do poorly in school. These Champions of Change are exemplifying elements of the Administration’s 2011 National Drug Control Strategy, which continues to expand upon a balanced public health and public safety approach to drug control, emphasizing community-based drug prevention, integration of drug treatment into the mainstream healthcare system, innovations in the criminal justice system to break the cycle of drug use and crime, and international partnerships to disrupt transnational drug trafficking organizations.
Daniel Alford
Health Promotion Advocates in three urban hospitals and five community health centers in the greater-Boston area are using an innovative approach to screen patients for substance abuse.
Ben Bass
Ben Bass is in long-term recovery and is the CEO of the Recovery Alliance of El Paso, which is a leader in peer-to-peer recovery support services.
LaKisha Bryant
As Executive Director, LaKisha Bryant is responsible for providing professional leadership and assistance in areas of community relations, marketing, administration, personnel management and program administration.
Hugh Clements
Hugh T. Clements, Jr. was appointed to the Providence Police Department in 1985, as a night Patrol Officer in the Patrol Bureau, Uniform Division.
Lt. Daniel Gannon
Daniel E. Gannon is a 25 year veteran of the Providence Police Department, (Rhode Island), currently holding the rank of Lieutenant as a District Commander.
Linda Leathers
The Next Door Chattanooga’s Residential Transition Center provides critical re-entry services to women who are ending their incarceration, including job readiness, life skills and family reunification, education, and substance abuse treatment and recovery support.
Cindy Schaider
Cynthia Schaider is the Executive Director of the Casa Grande Alliance, a community-based drug abuse prevention coalition.
Timothy Wagner
Timothy Wagner is the Director of the South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force Program.
Diane Williams
Diane Williams was named President and Chief Executive Officer of Safer Foundation in February 1996. Diane has over 20 years experience working with the criminal justice population and was elected Chairman of the National Institute of Corrections Advisory Board.
Jan Withers
Jan Withers joined MADD in 1992, after her 15-year-old daughter, Alisa Joy, was killed by an underage drinker who chose to drive after consuming numerous alcoholic beverages.