San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Awareness

SACADA is committed to educating youth and families on substance use prevention. Many of the young people we serve come from under-resourced communities and face higher risk. Our prevention programs give them the skills to handle life’s challenges and transition into adulthood with confidence. By engaging families and communities, we help build healthy environments that reduce risk factors. These evidence-based programs, endorsed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, are proven to prevent substance use before it begins.

We also work to equip adults—many of them parents—with tools that support healthy, stable lives. Through our Recovery Support program, we help individuals entering recovery or transitioning from treatment secure employment, find stable housing, and maintain long-term recovery. Our certified recovery coaches offer personalized, one-on-one guidance to create plans tailored to each person’s needs.

YOUTH PREVENTION SERVICES
Our youth prevention programs serve students utilizing evidence-based curricula tailored to different grade levels. These programs are designed based on age-appropriate best practices and input from teachers and counselors.

Elementary – High School:
A 10-week program building knowledge and skills to prevent substance use and support healthy decision making.

Middle – High School:
Stanford Vape-Free Toolkit – A 6-lesson program addressing youth e-cigarette use through interactive activities, quizzes, and resources.

RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES
SACADA’s Recovery Support Services program helps individuals with substance use disorders transition from formal treatment to a life of sustained recovery. Our services include:

Sober living & transitional housing assistance
Medication-Assisted Recovery treatment support
Healthcare navigation
Employment preparation & job search assistance
Guidance with probation & CPS requirements
Enrollment in court-mandated education courses
Certified Recovery Coaches

Our Recovery Coaches—who are certified and in long-term recovery themselves—offer one-on-one support to help individuals prevent relapse and rebuild meaningful, healthy lives. They provide accountability and resource navigation via phone, text, email, and virtual communication. By sharing their personal recovery experiences, they foster deep connections with those they serve.

We also offer:
Twice-daily virtual support meetings where participants share their journeys and provide mutual encouragement.

Parenting and anger management classes to support long-term well-being.

Eight annual virtual activities, including painting sessions, movie nights, and games, which consistently attract high participation.

Our commitment to long-term recovery means that interaction and support continue for months—even years—after formal treatment concludes.

SACADA believes it is our moral obligation to reach out to the community and offer substance prevention programs, enabling citizens to make healthier and more productive lifestyle choices. We are continually seeking funding opportunities to expand our reach and impact within the community.

SACADA takes pride in our daily work in substance use prevention. Currently, we have 13 schools on a waiting list requesting our youth prevention programs, which would involve 93 groups of 20-30 students each. According to the Surgeon General's Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health (December 2016), 1 in 7 people will develop a substance use disorder at some point in their lives, yet only 1 in 10 receives any form of treatment. It is crucial to continue delivering evidence-based prevention programs to our schools, communities, businesses, and other settings.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we transitioned to virtual education and presentations for youth, and we have since returned to in-person classroom settings. All youth prevention programs and presentations are offered to the community at no charge.

We also adapted to telehealth and virtual Peer Support Group meetings via Zoom, allowing us to reach many clients who lack transportation or funding for travel. This virtual approach has enabled us to serve not only our local community but also adults from other states.