Sponsored by Tri-College University and funded with a grant from the Otto Bremer Foundation and other private sponsors, the symposium attracted community leaders, legislators and other public policy makers, students and faculty to address the issue of addictive drugs in the region.

The first symposium was hosted at North Dakota State University (NDSU). The second, titled “Rethinking Public Policy Responses to the Misuse of Alcohol and Other Drugs,” was hosted at Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM). The first two symposiums provided a great deal of information and drew attention to the issues by professionals in the field and the public at large. The final symposium took the process full circle to address specific actions that can be taken to address substance abuse. Substance affects people of all cultures and is a community-wide issue and as such, it must be addressed through a broad-based community effort and involvement.
 
The focus of the final symposium was to develop specific strategies for the workplace, campus, home and community. The group addressed best practices and acknowledged that the development of public policy is necessary, but the strategies must work “on the ground” to be effective and practical for the community. That is why the final symposium was titled “Sharing Solutions to Substance Abuse.”

The three symposia have produced significantly greater public awareness of substance abuse issues and impacts. Public policy makers’ and education institutions’ actions to address substance abuse issues have increased as well, in response to the lessons learned through the gatherings.
The Consensus Council, Inc., was pleased to be involved in convening and facilitating all three symposia.