Who We Are

Organization Overview

The Council on Alcohol and Drugs has a long history of collaboration, consensus building and utilization of volunteers. The Council was formed in 1969 as a 501(c)3 charitable organization under the name Metropolitan Atlanta Council on Alcohol and Drugs (MACAD). The organization was created to serve as a central agency for the purpose of bringing together fragmented efforts into a comprehensive approach to combat alcohol and other drug abuse. The Council maintains and provides innovative and essential alcohol, tobacco, and other drug services, such as a drug and alcohol prevention course for educators and addiction counselors and an information and referral line for treatment and prevention information. The Council has successfully provided alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention services since its founding, and the agency has not lost sight of its original goal of bringing together all aspects of communities to combat substance abuse. For more information, visit livedrugfree.org

Coalition Overview

In 2011, the Council on Alcohol and Drugs established the Atlanta DeKalb Community Prevention Alliance Workgroup (CPAW) to address the underlying causes for so many of the community’s substance use/abuse concerns. Atlanta DeKalb CPAW has evolved over the years to meet the changing needs in the community and focus population, and the Atlanta DeKalb CPAW has morphed into the Power Through Prevention Community Coalition.

By putting others first and developing interagency trust, the Power Through Prevention Community Coalition has been able to make connections, build partnerships, and serve the community to the best of its ability. The Power Through Prevention Community Coalition has had an impact on youth substance abuse by being a catalyst for increasing the strength of protective factors among members of the community. Specifically, the National Institute on Drug Abuse outlines protective factors against substance abuse such as “strong and positive family bonds, parental monitoring of children’s activities and peers, clear rules of conduct that are consistently enforced, success in school performance, and strong bonds with institutions such as schools or religious organizations.” Each of these protective factors have been reinforced and as documented by an external evaluator, have increased based on the work of the Power Through Prevention Community Coalition.

Mission and Goals

The Power Through Prevention Community Coalition expects to achieve the following goals to reduce youth 30 day use of both alcohol and marijuana, particularly among ages 11 – 18.

Goal 1: Increase community collaboration among communities, public and private non-profit agencies, federal, state, local and tribal governments to support the efforts of community coalitions working to prevent and reduce substance use among youth.

Goal 2: Reduce substance use among youth and, over time, reduce substance use among adults by addressing the factors in a community that increase risk for substance use and promoting factors that minimize risk for substance use.

Mission- The mission of the Power Through Prevention Community Coalition is to reduce youth substance use through the use of evidence-based strategies and programs.

MEET THE PTP TEAM

Afiya H. King, MPH. MCHES, ICPS Associate Director for the Council on Alcohol and Drugs

Afiya King earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Chemistry from Georgia State University and her Master of Public Health degree from Morehouse School of Medicine. Ms. King is certified as a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) and an Internationally Certified Prevention Specialist (ICPS). Ms. King currently serves as the Associate Director of the Prevention/Intervention Division at the Council on Alcohol and Drugs. Ms. King oversees substance abuse prevention/early intervention evidence-based programs statewide, designs and develops curriculums, and advocates for policy change. As an ambassador for social change, Ms. King has several years of experience working with youth and young adults to address substance use prevention and its related risk factors from their perspective. Ms. King was chosen as one of the Top 10 Under 40 by her alma mater, Morehouse School of Medicine. This award was designed to recognize Morehouse School of Medicine’s stellar alumni who are establishing a track record of success in their profession and making a notable difference in their community with the promise of much achievement ahead. Ms. King was awarded the 2020 Atlanta Black 40 Under 40 Award presented by Everything Atlanta Magazine.

Ashley E. Daniel, MPH, M.S.- Project Coordinator-Atlanta Drug Free Communities Support Program

Ashley Daniel is the Project Coordinator for the Atlanta Drug-Free Communities project. An Atlanta native, Ashley has been active in the Metro Atlanta area in various ways to help keep Atlanta healthy. Ashley is an AmeriCorps alumnus and has worked with nonprofits and research institutions with the purpose of promoting health equity, infectious disease prevention and drug misuse prevention. Ashley is a graduate of Tulane University’s Master’s in Public Health program and has focused on community health. In her off time, Ashley loves a good book and watching period television shows such as Vikings, Game of Thrones and The House of the Dragons.