Community Drug & Alcohol Council, Inc.

In 1970, a task group of concerned citizens formed to investigate the problems of drug abuse in the Escambia County community.  By 1971, this group evolved into Community Drug & Alcohol Council.  Their mission was to address pervasive drug abuse issues.  From the beginning, CDAC focused on solving drug abuse issues through drug education in schools, law enforcement and building a stronger treatment community. 

In the '80s, through increased development of prevention education programs, many school-based programs were implemented.  In 1985, CDAC brought Project Graduation into our community and began coordinating community support for this activity in Escambia County Schools.  Now, all schools in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are offered technical assistance and coordination from CDAC for Project Graduation Celebrations.  CDAC also began coordinating Red Ribbon Celebrations in support of National Red Ribbon Week. 

The 1990s brought programs that addressed more specific community needs, such as the problems of low-income neighborhoods through Project Boost.  Pregnant and parenting women with substance abuse problems were offered Women’s Intervention and Education Services (WISE).  Services were expanded outside of Escambia, to include Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties.

After the horrific hurricanes of Florida’s 2004 and 2005 season, CDAC provided immediate crisis counseling through Project Hope, long-term mental health and substance abuse counseling, and case management services to all four counties of Circuit One through Project Recovery

Now, we are a well-trained and experienced group of prevention specialists, case managers, teachers and counselors dedicated to prevention and intervention with the problems of alcohol, tobacco, other drug abuse, mental health and community and family violence.  We work throughout Circuit One — Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties.