Nexus Coalition outlines local drug-prevention work, offers resources and naloxone training

Vicky Solomon, executive director of Nexus Coalition, presented the nonprofit’s prevention work to the Town Council, describing programs targeted to youth and adults in Pinetop Lakeside and across Navajo County. Solomon said the coalition’s two primary aims are youth substance-use education and cross‑sector partnership building; Nexus holds school‑focused programming, resiliency workshops, and naloxone training and distribution.

Solomon told council that Nexus has served roughly 13,000 youth and 13,000 adults and distributed nearly 986 naloxone kits (fentanyl naloxone) together with training. She said the coalition provides recurring programs such as the Junior Leadership Academy in Blue Ridge and White River, community tabling at National Night Out, a kids’ zone at local fairs, and is partnering with the jail system to provide reentry education.

Solomon also introduced a QR‑sticker initiative that links residents to crisis and resource hotlines; she noted a local 844 crisis line that she said can deliver services more quickly than national 988 routing for some callers. Council members asked about school programming; Solomon said Nexus is in Blue Ridge junior high weekly and is working to expand into the elementary school this year.

Council thanked Nexus for its work and accepted the presentation; no formal action was required.