Clay Hammac was the featured speaker at the February Chamber Connections luncheon held at the Grand Hall at Old Mill Square on Feb. 6. The Executive Director of Compact2020 gave an update on the community initiative, and how it has helped since its formation in 2016.
Formed by county leadership four years ago, the purpose of Compact2020 is to take a proactive approach to the increasing trend of substance abuse and addiction among our students and young adults, as well as equip families on how to respond to their loved ones facing these challenges.
Hammac has served in his director role since Nov. 2018 and said that by having this program, Shelby County is doing something uniquely different than anywhere else in the state, and in his opinion, anywhere else in the country.
“Our kids are under attack with messaging, as far as what is a healthy choice and healthy behavior and what is safe and unsafe,” Hammac said. “We had students overdosing and dying from opioid addiction and prescription medications and our county leaders said we are not going to wait for our legislators to do something or for the state to step in and do something. We are going to do what Shelby County does best and be responsive and proactive.”
Hammac shared a statistic that 90 percent of those struggling with abuse began as teenagers, and believes Compact2020 has been successful because of partnerships within the county and having a group effort approach.
The Compact2020 team is made up of talented law enforcement officers from multiple agencies who utilize their talents and skills to identify students who are at risk or actively involved. They meet with parents to provide assistance and resources to help.
Payton Thomas.
Feb. 6 Chamber luncheon
Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego, Clay Hammac (Executive Director of Compact2020) Kathy Copeland (The Shelby County Chamber Chair 2020) and Alan Miller (Former Executive Director of Compact 2020) at the Feb. 6 chamber luncheon.
“We have an incredible partnership with Central Alabama Wellness and they are at the table with us to offer assessments, resources and help,” Hammac said. “This is accountability based help the family will be going through for years to come.”
Other community based resources that collaborate with Compact2020 include Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and other non-profit ministries who come alongside the families to equip their children for a life of recovery and sobriety.
Since 2016, Compact2020 has identified around 630 students through their law enforcement agencies that are at risk of or actively involved in substance abuse. Of that number, five of them died from overdose or suicide. Hammac said that it can be a challenging time for parents who can sometimes be in denial that their children are involved in these activities.
“We are here to speak truth, not to arrest their son or daughter or get them involved in the juvenile justice system,” Hammac said. “Our job is to clear the docket for the juvenile court system.”
Hammac said in regards to measuring success, the county coroner recently said that over the last year and half, there has been drastic decrease in juvenile overdose incidents.
“That is something we cling to as a victory,” Hammac said. “We've received overwhelming support from parents of the children’s lives that we have touched and community leaders as well. Compact 2020 has a long mission and the only key to success is community partnerships and for that we are deeply grateful.”
For more information on Compact2020, visit shelbyal.com/748/Compact-2020.
