Communities Coming Together: A New Name, Same Commitment to Prevention

For more than a decade, the Knox Substance Abuse Action Team (KSAAT) has been a driving force in local substance-use prevention, community education, youth engagement, and overdose awareness efforts across Knox County. Today, that work continues with a new name and a broader vision.
KSAAT is now Communities Coming Together.
This change reflects the coalition’s evolution and continued commitment to bringing neighbors, partners, and organizations together to improve the health and safety of our community. While the name is new, the heart of the mission remains the same: preventing substance misuse, supporting youth, promoting safe medication disposal, offering naloxone resources, and ensuring every resident has access to information that can save lives.
Why the Change?As community needs have grown more complex, prevention efforts have expanded beyond a single issue. The new name "Communities Coming Together" better represents the coalition’s role in addressing multiple factors that contribute to substance use, including mental health, social connection, family support, and community awareness.
The rebranding also creates a stronger connection to other public health initiatives, increases collaboration, and allows for more efficient use of shared resources throughout Knox County.
What Stays the Same

• Youth leadership and engagement through prevention education, school initiatives, and community campaigns
  
• Drug Take Back Day participation and year-round safe medication disposal locations
  
• Naloxone distribution and overdose prevention tools
  
• Community education events such as Hidden in Plain Sight, safety presentations, and awareness campaigns
  

The coalition will continue to be powered by volunteers, schools, first responders, health agencies, youth groups, faith leaders, and community champions the same people who have always made KSAAT successful.
A Fresh Start, TogetherCommunities Coming Together represents a renewed focus on connection, partnership, and unity. Substance misuse impacts every neighborhood, workplace, family, and school, and addressing it requires everyone at the table.
The coalition invites community members to stay involved, connect with ongoing initiatives, and help shape future prevention strategies that support all residents — youth, adults, and families.
Get InvolvedCommunity members, organizations, and youth are encouraged to:

• Attend coalition meetings
  
• Share resources in schools, churches, and workplaces
  
• Volunteer at local prevention events
  
• Follow coalition updates and educational messaging
  
• Spread the word about safe disposal, treatment support, and recovery resources
  

Together, we are building a healthier, safer, and more resilient Knox County.
Communities Coming Together, because prevention starts with all of us.