OUR MISSION
to prevent and reduce alcohol and drug use among the youth of Passaic City by offering trainings,
community education, sharing of resources and encouraging collaboration between communities.
The Passaic City Coalition
Communication
We provide information about the consequences of alcohol and marijuana use among youth. This includes sharing resources, materials, and implementing campaigns in our community.
Support
We support individuals and organizations that are invested in preventing youth substance use. This includes sharing and collecting data, provide trainings, and collaborating on initiatives that benefit families; especially youth.
Collaboration
We collaborate with individuals and organizations who share our vision. Collaboration is as simple as sharing resources to more complex efforts like working on new initiatives together.
OUR HISTORY
In late 2018, William Paterson University received a Drug-Free Communities grant to prevent alcohol and marijuana use among Passaic City youth using a public health approach, such as, providing information, enhancing skills, providing support, enhancing access, reducing barriers, changing consequences, changing physical design, and modifying/changing policies. For prevention efforts to be effective, it requires that community members be involved in each step of community change process.
We began our work with Mayor Hector Lora to establish a youth council that gives Passaic City youth the opportunity to voice their concerns, plan out initiatives using Passaic City Hall resources. We have provided safe-beverage server trainings to liquor-licensed establishments, collected youth data and reported results with key community members, hosted community meetings, collaborated with organizations to provide education and resources to families, and displayed youth drug-prevention campaigns in the community.
Community Resources
2023 Passaic City Community Directory
2025 Drug Product Gallery
2025 Passaic Youth Drug Survey Results
Youth Initiatives
The Passaic City Coalition focuses on fostering youth leadership development and creating opportunities for civic engagement as a community-wide youth drug prevention effort. Through youth-led initiatives, community service projects, advocacy efforts, and prevention education, young people develop the skills, confidence, and connections needed to make healthy decisions. Youth leaders also serve as positive peer influencers, helping to shape attitudes, model behavior, encourage healthy choices, and promote substance-free lifestyles. Our coalition efforts are centered on evidence-based public health strategies that strengthen protective factors that reduce risk factors associated with substance use.