The Guam Police Department is striving to create thriving communities. In the middle of Pandemic Condition of Readiness Level 1, local law enforcement in partnership with WestCare joined the Thrive Coalition - a collaborative movement to develop a drug-free, healthy lifestyle for our youth.

GPD spokesperson Sgt. Paul Tapao says they are currently identifying areas in need, placing a focus on the village of Dededo because of its large the school population.

"The Department of Education has a great tracker infractions of alcohol and primary tobacco use among the elementary and middle schools. So the population of Dededo, you look at the amount of schools they have there, three middles schools a whole slew of elementary schools and one high school so you will find the infractions of the students that commit these type of incidents are associated and related to drugs, and alcohol or tobacco," Tapao explained.

He also stressed in order to prevent drug use, it begins at home and during the stay-at-home order a parent's role is crucial. "If you look at it from a negative aspect of the spectrum, they are getting it from the parents because it's really accessible so how do you eliminate that it's really the parental role in educating your kids and of course educating yourself as a parent," he shared.

For more information on the Thrive Coalition, visit