Newton County Youth Leaders Chosen as National Voices for Substance Use Prevention

Two inspiring members of Newton County’s Youth Action Team (YAT) are stepping into national leadership roles to help prevent youth substance use across the country.

We’re thrilled to announce that Adriana Drain has been selected as a National Youth Champion with the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), joining a select group of youth leaders who are working to strengthen substance use prevention efforts nationwide.

Adriana was nominated for this honor by Jennifer Wilds of View Point Health and the Newton Rockdale Suicide Prevention Coalition. Through her involvement with YAT, Adriana has shown a deep commitment to engaging youth and promoting healthy, drug-free lifestyles in Newton County.

As a National Youth Champion, Adriana will collaborate with youth leaders from both urban and rural communities across the United States. The group meets virtually to share strategies on how Drug-Free Community (DFC) coalitions recruit young people, organize prevention events, and implement successful programs to keep communities healthy and safe.

Adriana joins Francisco Alvarado, another standout member of Newton County’s Youth Action Team. Francisco has already been serving as a National Youth Champion and will continue in the role as he begins his college journey. Earlier this year, Francisco traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) conference. There, he spoke on a youth panel, sharing what has worked in Newton County and offering insights on how other communities can adopt similar prevention strategies.

Both Adriana and Francisco are examples of how local youth can create real change on a national level. Their work supports the mission of Newton Community Partnership (NCP), which empowers youth and promotes healthy, drug-free communities throughout Newton County.

Looking ahead, Adriana, Francisco, and their national peers will focus on developing impactful initiatives for National Youth Substance Prevention Month this October. We’re incredibly proud of their leadership and look forward to seeing the difference they’ll continue to make—locally and beyond.

Stay tuned to our blog and social media channels for updates on their projects and how our community can support their efforts.