Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone dropped by a meeting of the Fountain Hills Youth Substance Abuse Prevention on Thursday, April 12, sharing a few words of encouragement with the local group.

Last week’s meeting was the final official gathering of the Coalition until the fall, though its efforts around town will continue through the summer months. The group is made up of both community leaders and residents and orchestrates projects to help keep local youth substance-free.

Penzone said he believes youth substance abuse prevention groups like the Coalition are doing important work all over the state of Arizona. Through those efforts, he said the community is helping strengthen what he considers a weak point in the area of prevention.

“We need to do a better job of preparation,” Penzone said, referring to both adults and youngsters.

Whether it’s educating parents about addressing substance abuse with their kids or making sure those kids receive reinforcement about the dangers of substance abuse, Penzone’s take was that more work in advance is a better alternative than trying to address the problem after it has already begun.

“We invest so little time in getting them to the starting line and then expect them to run the race,” he said. “Groups like this, coming together and talking about this stuff and actually getting active in the community is an important factor in prevention.”

For more information about the Fountain Hills Coalition and its work around town, visit safehomesfh.org.