Developing Community Partnerships and Authentically Engaging Youth to Prevent Substance Use: Successes From the Pyramid Coalition in Hidalgo County, New Mexico

The Pyramid Coalition is a former Drug-Free Communities (DFC) coalition serving the rural frontier community of Hidalgo County, New Mexico. This practice brief describes the coalition's evolution, implementation strategies, and adaptations across 10 years of DFC funding, with a focus on youth engagement and cross-sector partnerships. Core prevention strategies include school-based curricula, outdoor experiential youth programming, and a youth-led prevention coalition. After disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the coalition adapted by integrating with the Hidalgo County Health Council, which strengthened coordination, reduced duplication of effort, and increased participation. The coalition sustained youth engagement and expanded sector participation despite geographic isolation and workforce turnover. This case illustrates how community-based coalitions can leverage flexible structures and youth-centered strategies to maintain effective substance use prevention efforts in rural and frontier settings.