The Greater Gresham Area Prevention Partnership (GGAPP) acts to identify, coordinate and implement strategies that promote the reduction of substance abuse among youth by building a safe and healthy community for the residents and families of East Multnomah County, Oregon.
Who Leads the GGAPP Coalition?
We are a group of
diverse leaders and organizations committed to
integrating and aligning our resources to make our community
safer and
healthier. We have established a coalition that is dedicated to
engaging our entire community in this endeavor. By moving in this direction, we
work smart, spend smart and strive to
reduce our tax burden as we focus on
preventing such
costly problems as
drug abuse, violence, teen pregnancy, juvenile delinquency,
crime and
school drop outs. Our prevention efforts are results focused, identifying and implementing proven,
cost effective programs, policies and activities. The bottom line is that the work of our coalition is a
common sense, smart spending, sound investment in the
future of our youth and community.
Patrick G. Aaby, Ed.D Semi-Retired Prevention Specialist
Welcome to our website!
Check out our
calendar regularly for upcoming events in your community.
Check out the
Get Involved page for regularly updated information on how you or your community organization participate in a GGAPP project.
Keep an eye on
Bulletins and News for updates and announcements.
East Mulnomah County is home to organizations and businesses who care about the safety and well-being of all community members, especially our youth. Check out GGAPP
Partners and
Resources to learn about these great organizations.
GGAPP is organized into Coalition Teams comprised of like-minded organizations and individuals to bring about positive change in our community. To learn about each team and for the latest in Team Activities check out
GGAPP in Action.
GGAPP's website is updated regularly. To add an activity or event or to become a GGAPP partner please contact Cathy Sherick.
Get to know GGAPP! Learn more about GGAPP's vision and structure here.
Special Announcements
The COMMUNITY OF CHOICE campaign is underway! Read more about it in
Bulletins and News and check back for updates.
GGAPP Says KEEP IT 21!
The Greater Gresham Area Prevention Partnership [GGAPP] coalition members express outrage at recent reports about the Amethyst Initiative that proposes lowering the drinking age to age eighteen. The coalition acts to identify, coordinate and implement strategies to build a safe and healthy community through the reduction of substance abuse among youth and therefore stands firmly against lowering the legal drinking age.
Read more on Bulletins and News
WHY LOWERING THE DRINKING AGE IS A BAD IDEA
In case you missed it, there are some who are suggesting that we should experiment with lowering our national drinking age from 21 to 18.
Unfortunately, advocates of lowering the drinking age may not be aware that reverting to these outdated 60's and 70's era policies costs lives. MADD has compiled powerful evidence regarding the consequences of lowering the drinking age. Consider this:
As one of the most studied public health laws in history, the scientific research from more than 50 high-quality studies all found that the 21 law saves lives. Studies show that the 21 law causes those under the age of 21 to drink less and to continue to drink less throughout their 20s.
About 5,000 people under age 21 die each year due to underage drinking. This does not include sexual assaults, violence and injuries.
The earlier youth drink (average age of first drink is about 16), the more likely they will become dependent on alcohol and drive drunk later in life.
Setting the drinking age at 21 has saved lives on our roads. Between 1983 and 1989, the number of drivers at a .10 BAC (the old illegal limit for adults) involved in fatal crashes increased, except for two age groups – 16-20 year olds, which decreased 32 percent, and 21-24 year olds, which decreased 18 percent.
The Centers for Disease Control has looked at 49 peer-reviewed studies of places that changed their drinking age and found conclusively that a 21 minimum drinking age decreases fatalities by 16 percent.
