With a mission to “improve the quality of life for all who live, work or play in Royal Oak by promoting a lifestyle free from the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and drugs,” the coalition focuses on promoting wellness, education and prevention initiatives to empower both individuals and families.

The small, nonprofit coalition was established in 1983 and has grown from humble beginnings as a small group of volunteers to a dynamic organization now licensed by the State of Michigan Department of Community Health.

The members of the coalition’s board of representatives come from key community sectors including law enforcement, education, the judicial system, the faith community and more, helping to educate and advocate for a drug-free community.

The Royal Oak Community Coalition prioritizes creating engaging prevention programming, giving youth and adults the information necessary to make better choices. All services provided by the coalition are free to the community.

According to executive director Melissa Morris, one of the main services the coalition offers is free Narcan training for anyone 14 and older.

“My hope, vision and goal is to have everybody – whether they work, live or play in Royal Oak – to be trained in Narcan because you just don’t know,” Morris said.

Narcan is a life-saving medication that can reverse the effects of opioid overdose, including fentanyl.

Morris explained that now, even vaping devices are being laced with fentanyl and kids using vape products have gotten younger and younger.

“All it takes is a pinhead of fentanyl to end somebody’s life and they don’t even realize that they have come into contact with the drug,” she said.

The coalition’s 30-minute Narcan training is offered either in person or virtually, where participants are not even required to turn their cameras on if they do not want to.

After the training, participants will receive two vials of Narcan that the coalition will replace for free if they are expired or used.

In addition to Narcan training, the coalition provides a range of other services aimed at promoting health, a drug-free community and wellness including substance misuse prevention programs, mental health awareness campaigns, educational workshops and resources for parents, youth and educators.

They also offer community outreach initiatives, and collaboration with local organizations and support groups to help individuals make healthier, informed choices and foster a safer community environment.

Last year, the Royal Oak Community Coalition received the 2024 Most Collaborative Coalition of the Year award from the Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities.

The efforts of the coalition empower residents to make informed choices and create a safer, healthier environment for all.

For more information, visit www.royaloakcommunity coalition.org or email rocommunitycoalition@gmail.com.