Cowlitz Substance Abuse Coalition & Cowtliz Meth Action Team

Mission Statement

To mobilize the community to be healthy and safe by reducing substance abuse and violence through the integrated efforts of communication, collaboration, cooperation, and cultural competency.

General Description

The Cowlitz Substance Abuse Coalition provides information, resources, incentive and support for communities to develop targeted and coordinated strategies to reduce the impact and incidence of the abuse of alcohol and other drugs and violence. The coalition does this by devising and implementing multiple strategies over multiple sectors throughout the county.

The environmental strategies will be to build up and to mobilize the Cowlitz Substance Abuse Coalition, continue supporting a new coalition in Woodland, support implementation of a Social Norms project in Castle Rock, Woodland and Longview schools, participate at community fairs and festivals, continue to work with other community coalitions to prevent underage drinking and drug use, and early initiation of antisocial behavior among youth countywide.

Programmatic strategies that will be implemented are Strengthening Families with youth ages 6-14 with a new emphasis on follow up with families who have completed the program, the Teen Mentor Program in Longview, Kelso, and Kalama schools districts, review current after school programs and school violence prevention programs, and offer support to the schools in implementing these programs.

Mission Statement

The Cowlitz Meth Action Team is dedicated to reducing methamphetamine use within Cowlitz County thorough coordination of education, prevention, criminal justice, and substance abuse treatment services.

General Description

In 2001, concerned agencies identified a rapid rise in the use of methamphetamine in our region. Due to the more severe effects of this drug on individuals, families and communities, the Cowlitz Meth Action Team (CMAT) was formed specifically to address the use and wide-range effects of this drug. CMAT works to coordinate education, prevention, treatment, and criminal justice within Cowlitz County to reduce the use of Meth, to improve the quality of life, and ultimately save lives.

CMAT does this by providing education and training to the public on the signs and effects of the use of Meth; linking individuals and families to local resources; and working to address the needs of drug endangered children. They work diligently to educate the youth and agencies that can affect change to make our communities safer and to improve the lives of those most vulnerable to the effects of drug abuse.

CMAT is comprised of concerned citizens, local law enforcement, social service agencies, health and wellness agencies, adult and juvenile courts, child advocacy agencies, school districts, service clubs, business organizations, drug and alcohol treatment facilities, faith based organizations, and judicial representatives.