FY 2004 Continuation Drug-Free Communities Support Program

Cascade Locks Interested in Kids (CLIK), is a steadfast drug prevention coalition located in a rural Oregon community of 1151 residents of the Columbia River Gorge. CLIK was formed in 1998 in response to troubling data showing local youth to be using multiple drugs earlier and more often than their Oregon peers. Additional information underscored significant problems related to school failure, physical and sexual abuse, juvenile crime, adult substance abuse and severe conditions of poverty and unemployment. Compounded by lack of local services and its location on the I-84 corridor, Cascade Locks became a breeding ground for substance abuse and drug trafficking resulting in a dramatic increase in methamphetamine use as well as alcohol, marijuana and tobacco.
The coalitions has two main goals: 1) to prevent and reduce substance abuse among youth and over time adults, and 2) to strengthen the collaborative efforts among community, county, state, and federal government and private non-profit organizations.
Cascade Locks Interested in Kids is determined to achieve these goals by implementing the following strategies:
1) implement and evaluate proven best practice programs and Center for Substance Abuse and Prevention strategies, and then promote and enforce related policies, laws, and ordinances;
2) increase awareness of substance abuse harm thus reducing community acceptance of drug use;
3) strengthen collaboration with county, state, federal, and non-profit service providers to access more service and resources; and
4) strengthen and expand coalition membership to increase ability of coaltion to facilitate positive change, as well as to ensure the sustainability of drug prevention programs and efforts. CA/NCF