Home About Us Teens Adults News Programs Providers Contact Us

About Us

The Partners for Substance-Free Citrus, Inc. is a non-profit prevention coalition made of concerned community members like you who have joined together to address underage drug and alcohol use in Citrus County Florida.

To name a few: parents, teachers, students, school resource officers, members of our business and faith communities, professionals from the Department of Health, other government agencies and private non-profit agencies.

We advocate for raising our kids in safe, healthy environments. We work to protect our kids from the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol. We believe we all have a stake toward keeping Citrus County a good place to live and raise our kids. We know we all are part of the answer.

Board Members and Staff

Partners for a Substance-Free Citrus, Inc. Board Members and Staff. Top Row L to R: Mary Lee Cubbison, Treasurer; Alida Langley, Chairperson; Renna Jablonskis, Executive Director; Brenda Frazier, Maintenance & Sustainability Chair; Dale Benefield, Assessment Chair. Bottom Row L to R: Heather Yates, Vice Chairperson; Anita Morris, Secretary; Ginny Bawcom, Administrative Assistant; Cara Meeks, Fund Development Chair; Lorrie van Voorthuijsen, Youth Chair. Not pictured: Drew Sherman, Media & Communications Chair and Abbey Nelson, Youth Representative.

BOARD MEMBERS
Alida Langley, Chairperson
Heather Yates, Vice Chair
Anita Morris, Secretary
Mary Lee Cubbison, Treasurer
Dale Benefield, Assessment Chair
Lorrie van Voorthuijsen, Youth Chair
Cara Meeks, Fund Development Chair
Drew Sherman, Media and Communications Chair
Brenda Frazier, Maintenance & Sustainability Chair
(Not pictured, Abbey Nelson, Youth Representative.)
STAFF
Renna Jablonskis, Executive Director
Ginny Bawcom, Administrative Assistant

What You Need To Know

According to a recent survey conducted by the Department of Children & Families, both middle school and high school students in Citrus County report some of the state's highest levels of feeling negative about school and being in school, and are less likely than their peers elsewhere in the state to say that school is meaningful and important to their future. Results from that same study indicate that Citrus County students report among the state's highest frequency of changing homes and schools. This can interfere with youth's ability to become involved in pro-social activities and organizations.

Citrus County students also report among the state's highest levels of parental approval for use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs - our home environments are tolerant of substance abuse by our kids.

People who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcoholism than those who begin at age 21. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, SAMHSA)

Teens who learn anti-drug messages at home are 42% less likely to use drugs. (National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign)

What We Do

As coalition members, we each take part in addressing underage drug and alcohol use in Citrus County by helping organize outreach events and working to change aspects of our community that might allow for and even encourage our youth to use drugs and alcohol.

Some of our activities include the following:
Responsible Server/Vendor Symposiums - Coalition partners work with local businesses that sell alcohol and tobacco products to work cooperatively to reduce underage access to these products in informal instructional settings.

Operation Medicine Cabinet - In response to increasing reports of prescription and over the counter medication abuse from school health staff and School Resource Officers - and youth themselves - the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, in its capacity as a coalition partner, launched the "Operation Medicine Cabinet" initiative to reduce access to these medications.

Annual Sticker Shock Campaign - The Coalition's Sticker Shock campaign is a great chance for kids to get involved in a community service project and send a message that they're part of the solution too! The Sticker Shock campaign targets underage drinking and highlights the fact that it is illegal to provide alcohol to anyone under the age of 21. While that may seem obvious, unfortunately, many in Citrus County - older friends and even some parents themselves - violate this law and endanger their underage friends and children by providing them alcohol, especially at house parties.