CADCA’s 2009 Got Outcomes Coalition of the Year – Revere CARES

The Revere CARES Coalition is the recipient of the 2009 Got Outcomes! Coalition of Excellence Award in the Coalition of the Year category, which recognizes coalitions that can demonstrate their contribution toward population-level reductions in substance abuse rates for multiple substances. Formed in 1997, and based in Revere, Massachusetts, the coalition works to change the social norms around underage drinking and drug use in order to prevent substance abuse and build a healthier community. By implementing numerous program, practice, and policy changes such as doubling after school activities in Revere schools, successfully advocating for increased access to substance abuse treatment and services, effectively rolling back bar closing times from 2AM to 1AM and utilizing social marketing campaigns to increase community awareness, the coalition made the case for their contribution to a number of reductions in alcohol and drug use among local teens. For example, between 1999 and 2009, binge drinking among high school students decreased by 39 percent, and the percent of high school youth reporting that it is fairly easy or very easy to obtain tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana decreased by 17 percent, 21 percent and 15 percent respectively, between 1999 and 2009. In addition to these successes, the community also saw a slight decrease (4%) in youth reporting having purchased alcohol in stores between 2007 and 2009.