Municipal Alliance Committee running a drug and alcohol abuse survey

NEWTON — The Sussex County Department of Human Services, Division of Community and Youth, Municipal Alliance is asking for assistance from the citizens of all 24 communities within Sussex County.

The Sussex County Municipal Alliance Committees are currently in the process of performing assessments of the current trends, needs, and behaviors regarding the abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs within their communities. This is an online survey and is available to all residents of the County. “We are in the process of determining the needs for prevention programs that are funded through a grant from the state. We are asking for input and support of all the residents of the County in order to provide substantive programs” says Nick Loizzi, County Alliance Coordinator.

What is a Municipal Alliance?
The Municipal Alliance program began with the creation of the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse or GCADA in 1989.

GCADA administers the State’s $10 million Municipal Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse program which is the largest network of community-based anti-drug coalitions in the nation with thousands of stakeholders serving on nearly 400 Alliances encompassing more than 530 municipalities throughout New Jersey. Municipal Alliances are established by municipal ordinance and engage residents, local government and law enforcement officials, schools, nonprofit organizations, the faith community, parents, youth and other allies in efforts to prevent alcoholism and drug abuse in communities throughout New Jersey.

Where does the money come from?

Funding to administer the program comes from the Drug Education Demand Reduction Fund. It was established to collect fines from individuals who are convicted of a drug offense. County and Municipal Alliance award recipients are required to match GCADA grants with a cash-match of 25 percent of the award and 75 percent in-kind-services. This matching requirement is unique in the country and has the effect of doubling the impact of grants to total nearly $20 million per year in programs and activities.

Who do the alliances benefit?
County grant awards fund Municipal Alliances who in turn plan for and develop local community and evidenced-based addiction prevention strategies and programs as well as public education and awareness activities at the local level. In 2012, the state’s Alliances provided over 3,500 school and community-based programs and activities more than 55 percent of which are conducted in an educational setting; 21 percent of which offer safe and supervised alternative activities for youth; and the remainder of which are offered for early intervention programs, community-wide education of residents and to encourage collaborative community-based activities.

How can I get involved?
An important component of the needs assessment process is the collection of information from the citizens of the communities served. This is primarily done through surveys, key informant interviews and focus groups.

The Center for Prevention and Counseling in Newton has extended an invitation for each Alliance to use their subscription to Survey Monkey, an internet-based survey service. The Alliances have received individualized surveys to disseminate within their communities via email, local website, or flyers. Below are the web links to each Municipal Alliance’s survey. Please take a few minutes to fill out the survey.

Action MAC (Newton, Green, Andover Borough, Andover Township) - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Action_Municipal_Alliance_Survey

Central (Branchville, Frankford, Lafayette) - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Central_Municipal_Alliance_Survey

Hardyston/Franklin - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Hardyston-Franklin_Municipal_Alliance_Survey

Hopatcong - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Hopatcong_Municipal_Alliance_Survey

Lenape Valley - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Lenape_Valley_Municipal_Alliance_Survey\

Ogdensburg - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Ogdensburg_Municipal_Alliance_Survey

Sandyston/Montague/Walpack - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Sandyston-Montague-Walpack_Municipal_Alliance_Survey

Sparta - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Sparta_Municipal_Alliance_Survey

Stillwater - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Stillwater_Municipal_Alliance_Survey

Sussex Wantage - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Sussex-Wantage_Municipal_Alliance_Survey

Vernon - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Vernon_Municipal_Alliance_Survey

The information provided will be kept strictly confidential.