THE EVENT

The BuzzFree PROMises Dress & Tux Giveaway helps local teens obtain prom attire, but includes educational components and a drug-free pledge not usually found in other dress giveaway programs. In exchange for their pledge, students participate in a variety of workshops and are rewarded with a prom gown, tuxedo or suit. Students who participate in the program must be enrolled in 11th or 12th grade, hold an academic average or at least a "C," and have a good record of attendance and citizenship. 

DETAILS

March 25, 2017 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (check-in at 9:30) 

Kathlyn Joy Gilliam Collegiate Academy 

1700 E. Camp Wisdom Road, Dallas, 75241

Click here for more information on the event and how to register.  MUST REGISTER IN ADVANCE TO ATTEND

The Council's mission is t o improve our communities' health, safety, and productivity by reducing the incidence and impact of alcohol and drug abuse.

 

As stewards of that mission, part of our responsibility is to stay abreast of drug and alcohol trends and community needs, and adapt our prevention and intervention strategies accordingly. Two recent developments are influencing our decisions about how to be most helpful to the community both now and in the future.

 

The first development is the November 2016 release of FACING ADDICTION IN AMERICA: The Surgeon General's Report on Alcohol, Drugs and Health. As the first-ever Surgeon General's Report on this topic, it aims to shift the way our society thinks about alcohol and drug misuse and substance use disorders while defining actions we can take to prevent and treat these conditions.

 

The Report's executive summary begins with these troubling statistics:  "In 2015, more than 27 million people in the United States reported current use of illicit drugs or misuse of prescription drugs, and more than 66 million people (nearly a quarter of the adult and adolescent population) reported binge drinking in the past month. Alcohol and drug misuse and related disorders are major public health challenges that are taking an enormous toll on individuals, families, and society. Neighborhoods and communities as a whole are also  suffering as a result of alco hol- and drug-related crime and violence, abuse and neglect of children, and the increased costs of health care associated with substance misuse. It is estimated that the yearly economic impact of substance misuse and substance use disorders is $249 billion for alcohol...and $193 billion for illicit drugs."

 

In spite of these troubling statistics, the Surgeon General believes this is a time of great hope and opportunity. For example, policies and programs have been developed that are proven to be effective in preventing substance misuse and reducing its negative consequences. Research on alcohol and drug use and addiction has led to an increase of knowledge and to one clear conclusion: Addiction to alcohol or drugs is a chronic, but treatable brain disease that requires medical intervention, not moral judgment. And finally, health care reform efforts are creating new opportunities to increase access to prevention and treatment services.

 

The second development is a disturbing upward trend in the misuse of painkillers and other prescription medications. In our next Impact Report we will address the opioid crisis in Part II of "Setting Goals Amid Troubling Times."

The Council is in the process of casting a vision for the future, creating a strategic plan that will take us from 2017-2020 and beyond. In doing so, we are taking these developments to heart as we establish new goals around our core values in action: "To prevent problems with alcohol and drugs before they occur, to intervene when they do, and to promote recovery for people already affected." 

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