GOT OUTCOMES FEATURE: MATForce Coalition in Arizona

In Yavapai County, Ariz. if a person is caught selling methamphetamine, they can expect to receive a minimum of five years in prison. That's thanks to the efforts of MATForce (Methamphetamine Advisory Task Force), a coalition of educators, treatment professionals, law enforcement and the county attorney's office that came together to tackle one of the country's hardest hit areas by meth.

Using a variety of comprehensive and effective strategies to reduce meth use in their area, felony offenses in their county decreased by 30 percent between 2007 and 2009. Yavapai County experienced an unprecedented drop in methamphetamine offenses, violent crimes committed while under the influence of methamphetamine, and property crimes associated with methamphetamine such as identify theft, trafficking in stolen property and forgery. There has also been a downward trend in youth methamphetamine use.

For this success in meeting long-term outcomes as indicated by measurable, population-level changes in intermediate outcomes. CADCA named the MATForce Yavapai County Substance Abuse Coalition, the 2009 Got Outcomes Milestones Award recipient.

In just four years since the coalition’s existence, MATForce has become a force to contend with, initially focusing on the methamphetamine problem in Yavapai County.

“Law enforcement has told us that people don’t want to come to Yavapai County to deal meth anymore. But we knew there were other problems to address,” said Program Manager Merilee Fowler.

Since 2006, MATForce has expanded its mission to include all illegal substances, including underage drinking. On all 265 school buses for 12 public school districts in Yavapai County, there are age-appropriate anti-drug and alcohol ads with the coalition’s Web site produced by one of MATForce’s partners such as “Don’t be a bug on drugs.”

Educators can check out videos produced in-house for their classrooms. MATForce’s all-volunteer speakers bureau, gave more than 150 presentations to more than 7,000 people, including youth, last year.

Education is a prevention strategy that works for their coalition, Fowler said, but they also collaborate on environmental changes with their coalition members including the local media who often donate radio and TV time to air PSAs and promote MATForce’s community events such as prescription drug “dumps.”

The 200-member coalition consists of an executive committee, two steering committees and various work groups, volunteers and supporters who work to increase the number of youth participating in coalition-sponsored activities and provide support for successful prevention efforts. Together, the group conducts a variety of strategies, such as media and marketing campaigns, educational programs and community activities to raise awareness about key problems in the county like underage drinking, and to advocate for positive changes in substance abuse issues and public policies.

Fowler and MATForce co-chair and Cottonwood City Manager Douglas Bartosh accepted the award at CADCA’s National Leadership Forum last month in Maryland.

“We are honored,” Fowler said. “I just feel like the coalition has been proactive and done great things.”

View a video highlighting the work of MATForce.