The origins of the Orange County Drug Abuse Prevention Network can be traced back to a county-sponsored workshop in 1979 designed to build relationships and lessen competition among the five county-contracted drug abuse prevention providers. After the workshop, these five agencies, along with county drug abuse clinic staff and the County Drug Prevention Coordinator, decided to meet on a regular basis to share resources, information, and to strengthen their voice in support of drug abuse prevention in Orange County and in the state of California. Founding members included:
- Center for Creative Alternatives-Costa Mesa
- Fullerton Multipurpose Community Center-Fullerton
- Orange County Drug Abuse Services-Santa Ana
- Straight Talk Clinic-Cypress
- Teen Help-Fountain Valley
- Turning Point-Garden Grove
As prevention began to emerge as a viable alternative to costly treatment programs, the Prevention Network continued to grow and share its expertise with others in the field. In 1983, the members voted to change their name to the Orange County Substance Abuse Prevention Network to reflect the addition of members from the alcohol prevention field.
In the 1980’s, the Prevention Network’s main goal was to bring in training and technical assistance to sharpen the skills of those working in the prevention field, and they sponsored many local workshops and conferences. In 1984, the Prevention Network agreed to co-sponsor the annual Orange County Student Drug Abuse Prevention Poster Contest by providing prizes and cash awards to the winners. This practice continued until 2009 when the Poster Contest was discontinued after a 25-year run. The Network also acted as an Advisory Committee for the first School-Community Primary Prevention Project called the PAL Program, administered by the Orange County Department of Education to provide school-based prevention services to grades 2-12.
Membership continued to expand to parent groups, gang and violence prevention, teen pregnancy prevention, and others. In 1990, school-based prevention was taking off with expanded funding from the Tobacco Surtax (Prop 99), the Safe & Drug Free Schools Program, and other prevention funding. The Prevention Network responded by hosting its first Showcase of Community Resources to help schools connect with the wide array of Orange County organizations and agencies to help them deal with a variety of adolescent and family issues. The Prevention Network celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2011, proving itself to be the longest-running and premiere networking organization in the county.
Membership does not constitute an endorsement or certification by the OCSAPN or its members. It does represent a base of cooperation and a shared concern for making Orange County a safe and healthy environment.