Our Mission: The RISE Drug Free MKE coalition raises awareness on substance (mis)use, and, through inclusive education, elevates our entire community, from our youth to our elders, out of the harms caused by substance (mis)use.
Established in 2011, the RISE Drug Free MKE coalition (formerly MCSAP) exists to raise awareness to elevate youth in Milwaukee County through education, and to lift the entire community out of harms caused by substance use. With our coalition partners we will RISE to provide youth and adults with Resources for Inclusive Substance Education. RISE is more than a name: It is a call to action, and a promise of the direction we’re moving in as a community, together.
RISE Drug Free MKE prioritizes policies, practices, and programs that address major substance use issues in our community, including marijuana use among youth, problematic drinking, and prescription drug (mis)use.
In 2013, Community Advocates Inc. was awarded the Milwaukee County contract to serve as fiscal agent for the continuing work of RISE Drug Free MKE/MCSAP and the prevention sub-granting process. Since then, technical assistance and staffing has intensified and the coalition has grown to include more than 50 members from a diverse cross-section of the Milwaukee County community—with 15 of the 50 as highly engaged “voting members” helping to lead the coalition.
Tahira Malik, RISE Drug Free MKE Chair
“Substance use touches every zip code, every family, and every generation. RISE Drug Free MKE stands at the forefront of prevention and hope, reminding us that when we invest in education, early intervention, and community collaboration, we save lives. RISE Drug Free MKE represents hope, action, and accountability. By addressing substance use head-on, we empower our community to heal, to grow, and to create safer, healthier futures for our children. Through RISE Drug Free MKE, we are building a Milwaukee where prevention is prioritized, recovery is supported, and no one is left behind. Addressing substance use is an issue of equity, justice, and public health—and we are committed to doing the work. My work with RISE Drug Free MKE is rooted in the belief that prevention saves lives and recovery restores families. We must continue to invest in education, early intervention, and community-driven solutions to truly change the trajectory of substance use in Milwaukee County.”—RISE Drug Free MKE Coalition Chair Tahira Malik, Samad's House Founder and Chief Operations Officer
2024 Impact
- 785 youth participated in Botvin LifeSkills sponsored by the coalition
- 1,068 youth received substance use prevention programming
- 2,053 people were informed about substance misuse prevention education through personal outreach and engagement
- 2,400 drug deactivation pouches and medication lock boxes were provided to coalition partners to prevent overdoses
- 26,320 reached on RISE Drug Free MKE's social media pages
- 10,000 people were reached monthly through RISE Drug Free MKE coalition op-eds in the Milwaukee Times
- 281,000 impressions for substance use prevention PSAs were shown at Marcus Theaters and on iHeart Radio stations
