The Capital Area Substance Abuse Council (CASAC) is a Regional Action Council on substance abuse established by the Connecticut State Legislature in 1990. CASAC is a private/public partnership comprised of community leaders and citizens who develop and carry out strategies to reduce alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use in our communities. CASAC is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization funded in part by the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

Serving the towns of:

Avon, Bloomfield, Canton, East Granby, Granby, Farmington, Hartford, Hartland, Newington, Rocky Hill, Simsbury, Suffield, West Hartford, Wethersfield, Windsor, and Windsor Locks, Connecticut.

CASAC was voted outstanding Coalition by the Community Anti Drug Coalitions of America for the year 2000, because CASAC focused on and valued people and that was the infrastructure of a great coalition.

CASAC has remained a strong and vibrant institution grounded in the fact that our mission is essential and our cause is rooted in the belief that substance abuse, drug addiction, and alcohol dependency are indeed some of the most critical threats facing our children, and our communities. Despite operating on less in 2002 CASAC continued to provide substance abuse programs in our high schools.

CASAC and the Department of Corrections collaboration made the Tier 1 program possible. In 2002, over 100 inmates between the ages of 16-18 received Tier 1 certificates, prior to CASAC's involvement this program was not available to the adolescent inmates.

CASAC has developed a Gambling Awareness program that is the model throughout the state and was featured at the National Conference on Problem Gambling in Dallas last June. CASAC has continued to train towns and will finish the training of towns next year.

CASAC is probably the most active and involved Regional Action Council Board of Directors in the state reaching out to thousands of people in our region. Looking at the past and present Board of Directors roster you can grasp the importance of CASAC's mission, these are accomplished professionals, high achieving students maintaining academic excellence and school commitments, business people who are active in politics and their communities, parents who take an interest in their children and community to make it.