Welcome to GSSAC
Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council
GSSAC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to supporting the mobilization and collaboration of our community to prevent substance abuse and violence in Spokane County.
Awareness
We educate and inform about substance abuse and violence issues affecting our community.
Advocacy
We help create safe and healthy environments for communities across our region.
Action
We mobilize the community for positive social norms.
GSSAC is a member of the following organizations:
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Washington Association for Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
Northwest Alliance for Responsible Media
Washington Coalition of Crime Victims Advocates
LET'S DRAW THE LINE
In support of the Let’s Draw the Line campaign, Spokane County Washington Drug Free Youth (WDFY) members gathered at the Ice Palace at Riverfront Park on February 21, 2011 to show their support in preventing underage drinking. Students and their families joined Spokane City Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick and Spokane City Council President Joe Shogan to physically “draw the line” to raise awareness of our state's new rules limiting outdoor advertising of alcohol, and the legal penalties for providing alcohol to minors, and to encourage youth and young adults to get involved in their communities.
The Washington State Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking (RUaD) has launched the "Let's Draw the Line" Campaign to:
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Bring attention to the new Washington State rules that limit outdoor alcohol ads. These new rules are designed to reduce youth exposure to alcohol advertising. Over the last five years, the number of alcohol ads seen by youth ages 12–20 has increased 41%. A 2006 study found that the more alcohol ads young people see, the more they drink.
Adults need to know about the new rules, and how they can help draw the line between youth and alcohol.
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Inform and educate Washington adults about the serious legal penalties for providing alcohol to minors.
More Washington State youth drink alcohol than smoke tobacco or marijuana, and alcohol is a leading cause of death among teens. Alcohol is especially harmful to the still-developing teen brain. When teens drink alcohol, they are more likely to experience school failure, assaults, unwanted and unprotected sex, alcohol poisoning and car crashes.
Providing alcohol to minors is a gross misdemeanor, with a potential penalty of $5,000 and a year in jail ( RCW 66.44.270).
For more information, visit www.letsdrawtheline.org or wwww.starttalkingnow.org
Prevention Works!
