Alcohol and Drug Services (ADS)

Prevention Services

For more information send us an email or phone 619-584-5007.

San Diego County's alcohol and drug prevention strategy uses a community change model to prevent alcohol and drug problems throughout the region.

The prevention strategy focuses on four primary countywide initiatives: the Underage Drinking Initiative (1995), which addresses underage drinking issues in our communities and across the Border; Methamphetamine Strike Force (1996), which addresses the personal, community and environmental impact of methamphetamine; the Marijuana Initiative (2005)  to focus on  youth use of marijuana, and the Prescription Drug Task Force (2008) to address the illicit use of  prescription drugs in the region. Providing a targeted focus on these issues allows the County to develop long term, strategic and sustainable prevention plans for each initiative, provides coordination and shared resources where possible, and provides flexible prioritization in each region regarding how each initiative will be tailored to individual community needs.

Accomplishments include:

• Advanced Social Host Ordinances to approval in all 18 cities within the County, as well as unincorporated areas

• Created a Methamphetamine Report Card

• Created the Countywide Law Enforcement Task Force on Underage Drinking and DUI

• Worked with Tijuana officials to establish and allocate funds for Responsible Beverage Services and Sales training to reduce problems of U.S. youth drinking in Tijuana

• The Tijuana Border Project received federal designation as a SAMHSA Model Program

• Developed and implemented a youth-led campaign to raise public awareness of video games promoting drug use

• Succeeded in establishing policies at community events to prohibit sales of pro-marijuana-themed merchandise

• Created a street fair vendor policy prohibiting the sale of drug paraphernalia or any item that promotes the use of illicit drugs

• Worked with community members to pass permanent alcohol-free beaches

• Provides Responsible Beverage Service training to over 1000 persons annually and train over 700 volunteers to serve alcohol responsibly at special events around the County

• Developed a Prescription Drug Abuse plan

Prevention Brochure

The following list of sites provide prevention services throughout the county, grouped by geographic location.

All programs listed in this site receive funding by contract with the County of San Diego Alcohol and Drug Services to provide prevention, treatment, recovery, and or ancillary services. Except as restricted by State licensing regulations, services are provided without discrimination on the basis of age, sex, race, disability, or ability to pay. Client fees are waived for drug Medi-Cal eligible persons participating in Medi-Cal certified services.

For more information send us an email or phone 619-584-5007.