MATFORCE's Youth Poster Contest is an annual event held to raise awareness among youth about the risks of drug and alcohol abuse. The grand prize winning posters will be featured on MATFORCE substance abuse awareness materials throughout 2019.

Hundreds of students throughout Yavapai County participated in the contest. The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office assists in promoting this contest each year.  

Grand Prize Winners are:

• Hailey Allred, Age 9, Acorn Montessori School - K-6th Grade
• Logan Pratt, Age 18, Camp Verde High School - 7th-12th Grade

Age Category Winners are:

• Kendyll Procunier, United Christian School - Age 5/6 Category Winner
• Carmen Cox, Age 8, Granville Elementary School - Age 7/8 Category Winner
• Amelia Stoddard, Age 9, Granville Elementary School - Age 9/10 Category Winner
• Monyka Hernandez & Jocelyn Sellars, Age 12, Oak Creek School - Age 11/12 Category Winner
• Nina Compton, Age 13, Franklin Phonetic School - Age 13/14 Category Winner
• Anjanette Logan, Age 16, Camp Verde High School - Age 15/16 Category Winner
• Makenna Farrell, Age 18, Bradshaw Mountain High School - Age 17/18 Category Winner

MATFORCE has finalized its strategic plan for 2019-2020. With three main goals to achieve, over sixty MATFORCE volunteers met in early January to determine specific action steps the coalition can implement to meet these goals.

Goals include:

1. Increase prevention capacity for youth and families;
2. Support recovery by increasing the capacity for intervention and treatment;
3. Support and advocate for policies that result in the reduction of illicit or harmful drug use.

MATFORCE will continue to implement a public awareness campaign on the risks and harms of drug use, conduct substance abuse education in schools, offer parenting classes and workshops, operate the Yavapai Reentry Project and host multiple projects such as Stand with Me, Be Drug Free Week, youth contests, recovery celebrations, overdose fatality review, and prescription drug take back programs.

View the final Strategic Plan for more details on the specific action steps.

In 2018, almost 1,800 youth in Yavapai County completed the Arizona Youth Survey (AYS). The AYS asks 8th, 10th and 12th grade students if they are using drugs, what drugs they are abusing, why they choose to use and why they choose not to use drugs and alcohol.

Review the results of the survey and see drug and alcohol trends in Yavapai County here.