Will County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition

02/04/2026

02/04/2026

We’re honored to have Alexciana Castaneda from the Will County Sheriff’s Office/Community Assistance & Recovery Initiative representing the Will County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition at CADCA this week! Thank you for being our voice and bringing back the knowledge, insights, and updates to strengthen our prevention efforts here in Will County. We can’t wait to learn from you!

01/31/2026

📣 Illinois Youth Survey — Registration is OPEN!

Your school’s voice matters. Register today to take part in the Illinois Youth Survey (IYS) and help shape prevention efforts that truly reflect the experiences of youth in your community.

-Survey window: January 5 – May 22, 2026

The IYS provides reliable, local data on youth substance use, attitudes, and the risk and protective factors that influence their choices. These insights help coalitions, schools, and communities:

- Make data-driven prevention decisions
- Strengthen program planning and evaluation
- Support grant and funding applications
- Ensure strategies respond to the real needs of youth

Topics include:

- Alcohol, to***co, and other drug use
- Beliefs about substance use
- Health and nutrition behaviors
- Feelings about school
- Family support and rules

Be part of the solution!
👉 Learn more and register your school today:
https://iys.cprd.illinois.edu/register

01/29/2026

01/28/2026

01/28/2026

Yesterday’s Will County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition meeting had a fantastic turnout, and we truly appreciate everyone who joined us in person for our first-ever Member Appreciation Meeting!

We were grateful to hear an informative presentation from HERO on Kratom and emerging products to look out for in 2026. A huge thank you to Magdalena Campos, Jan Dombrowski, and the entire HERO team for sharing their expertise and keeping our coalition informed.

We also had the honor of presenting member awards to celebrate 10 years of dedication from coalition members who have been with us since the very beginning:
- Bonnie McPhillips
- Diane DeVries
- Loren Yaksich
- Dr. William McCarty
- Tim Cramer

Of course, no appreciation meeting is complete without treats—attendees enjoyed a hot cocoa bar and other goodies while connecting and celebrating together.

*Reminder: Our coalition meets monthly on the 4th Tuesday at 9:30 AM, with options to attend in person or via Zoom.

01/26/2026

Join us for our January Will County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition Meeting!

Tuesday, January 27
9:30 AM
In person: Will County Sheriff’s Office
Virtual: Zoom (link below)

This month’s meeting is a Member Appreciation Meeting, and we highly encourage attending in person! We’ll be celebrating our members with:

- Member appreciation awards
- A hot cocoa bar
- A special presentation from the He**in Epidemic Relief Organization (HERO) on emerging products to watch for in the new year

We’ll also be rolling out our brand-new Coalition survey, and we hope all members will take a few minutes to complete it.

Don’t miss this informative and celebratory meeting—we look forward to seeing you there!

01/16/2026

Special Presentation Highlight: HERO at Our January Meeting

We’re excited to welcome the He**in Epidemic Relief Organization (HERO) to our upcoming Will County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition Meeting on Tuesday, January 27 at 9:30 AM.

HERO will be presenting on emerging substances and products to look out for in the new year, sharing timely insights that are critical for prevention, education, and community awareness.

In person: Will County Sheriff’s Office
Virtual: Zoom option available (link below)

This presentation is one of the key reasons we strongly encourage in-person attendance for this month’s meeting. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from experts working on the front lines of substance use prevention and response.

We look forward to seeing you there and continuing this important conversation together.

01/14/2026

New Year, New Beginnings.

If you're seeking help for alcohol or other drug use, treatment options are available. Taking that first step can lead to health & healing. You’re not alone—help is available.

Findtreatment.gov

01/09/2026

January is Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month—a time to raise awareness on substance use disorder treatment and recovery.

Help us spread the word: samhsa.gov/treatment

01/05/2026

📣 Illinois Youth Survey — Registration is OPEN!

Your school’s voice matters. Register today to take part in the Illinois Youth Survey (IYS) and help shape prevention efforts that truly reflect the experiences of youth in your community.

- Survey window: January 5 – May 22, 2026

The IYS provides reliable, local data on youth substance use, attitudes, and the risk and protective factors that influence their choices. These insights help coalitions, schools, and communities:

- Make data-driven prevention decisions
- Strengthen program planning and evaluation
- Support grant and funding applications
- Ensure strategies respond to the real needs of youth

Topics include:

- Alcohol, to***co, and other drug use
- Beliefs about substance use
- Health and nutrition behaviors
- Feelings about school
- Family support and rules

Be part of the solution!
👉 Learn more and register your school today:
https://iys.cprd.illinois.edu/register