Resources
Providing up-to-date resources and reports to the communityCurrent Advocacy Efforts
Prevent Coalition has a vision of a healthy, thriving community free of the effects of substance misuse. To achieve such a mission, it takes the individual actions of community members. Our role as a community coalition is to educate and empower community volunteers to get involved.
The 2025 Washington State Legislative Session has begun. Below is a list of policy priorities that we support:
- Maintain and increase funding to adequately support community-based substance use prevention.
- Reduce marketing, supply, and access to minors of cannabis, alcohol, opioid, and commercial tobacco including vaping products.
- Increase access to resources for individuals who want to avoid or quit using substances.
- Support youth mental health, wellbeing, and alternatives to substance use.
- Promote health and safety in communities and education settings.
We encourage you to establish a connection with your elected officials all year-round even outside of legislative session and share your voice for matters important to you.
Previous Advocacy Efforts
Prevent and the Rural Network hosts annual meet & greets with lawmakers and policy 101 trainings provided by Prevention Voices, WA.
In 2023 & 2024 we empowered youth during our annual Youth Advocacy Training, to educate on how to “Use Your Voice” and educate decision makers on matters important to them.
In 2020, we educated decision-makers on the incredible investment prevention offers a community. We shared outcomes, initiatives, and stories from our local community.
From 2016-2019, we primarily educated decision makers on substance use issues in relation to raising the legal age to purchase tobacco. We shared what youth experience in their communities and what the data around youth behaviors shows. In March 2019 Washington State Legislature passed legislation to raise the legal age to purchase Tobacco products to 21.
Each year we attend Prevention Policy Day in Olympia, helping youth share their stories and insight with legislators. We discuss how prevention adds value to a community and what we’re able to accomplish with our grant funding. We also host an annual Youth Advocacy Training to prepare youth to effectively meet with legislators.
What’s the difference between advocacy and lobbying?
Policy change is a major focus of community coalitions. We know that changing laws, regulations, and policies will have a major effect on creating healthy communities. We also know everyone has a voice, a unique perspective and a moral obligation to share it with decision-makers.
Coalition members may not lobby on specific bills or policy when using the coalition’s federal funding. Members can however advocate for changes in policy, including activities such as speaking with legislators in order to educate about a specific issue concerning prevention, or to bring attention to issues concerning the community the coalition serves.
There are lots of nitty-gritty details about what constitutes lobbying verses advocacy work, but this should never stop us from doing the work necessary to update and change legislation to better our communities. Sharing stories, what’s happening in your community and local data educates decision-makers and is encouraged as a prevention practice.
Video Archive
Legislation 101: Online Training Series:
Add your voice to community based prevention efforts:
Foundation for Healthy Generations (Healthy Gen) is a statewide advocacy group that empowers community partners with policy resources, education materials, and legislative updates. Visit their website for tools, lessons, legislative summaries, and more.
CADCA is a national educational and advocacy coalition for substance prevention that supports over 650 coalitions across the county. Connect to your elected officials through CADCA.
WASAVP The mission of the Washington Association for Substance Misuse And Violence Prevention (WASAVP) is to unite prevention advocates in Washington State to create safe and healthy communities through prevention of substance misuse and violence. WASAVP conducts advocacy work through Prevention Voices WA, which fosters statewide collaboration that assures prevention professionals are active, consistent, and credible voices in public policy discussions at all levels. Visit their website for information on how to join and participate in meetings and activities.
WLCB oversees the implementation of rules, licensing, and enforcement of alcohol and marijuana in Washington State. The WLCB website has multiple updates, a mailing list and email address (rules@liq.wa.gov) for direct comment.