By DAN TOMASELLO

Published October 31, 2018

LYNNFIELD — The town has hired its first substance abuse prevention coordinator.

Peg Sallade will begin her tenure as Lynnfield’s substance abuse prevention coordinator on Thursday, Nov. 1. Sallade’s position is funded by a grant that was included in the fiscal year 2019 state budget.

“I am delighted to be working with the town of Lynnfield as the new substance abuse prevention coordinator,” said Sallade in a statement. “To date, there has been much work done by A Healthy Lynnfield that calls attention to how substance misuse can impact the health of youth and families in any community. Working together, I am confident we will continue to assess local needs, raise awareness, put supports in place, and work together on community-wide efforts to prevent young people from the misuse of opiates and other substances.” 

Sallade previously worked for the DanversCARES Prevention Partnership, where she served as the project director from July 2011 to June 30 and was the coalition’s coordinator from October 2008 through June 2011. According to Sallade’s resume, she helped Danvers obtain $2.4 million in grants. She managed a $300,000 budget, supervised staff and provided oversight of a community-based partnership that focused on health improvement.

Additionally, Sallade was responsible for forming partnerships and supported community volunteers with “implementing evidence-based and environmental prevention strategies through a strategic prevention framework.” She also worked with stakeholders and youths in Danvers, and has experience with budgeting, grant writing and reporting.

Sallade has served as an independent consultant for Health Planning and Program Development since March 1999. While working as an independent consultant, Sallade was the coordinator for the North Shore Community Health Network, a regional association of health and social service organizations, from March 2004-December 2014.

Additionally, Sallade’s consultant work includes serving as the coordinator for Healthy Waltham, the project manager for the CARF Opioid Treatment Program and project manager for the Darwin Project. She also worked as a consultant for substance abuse coalitions in Arlington, Marblehead, Melrose, Newburyport, Reading, Topsfield and Winchester.

Sallade was the senior prevention specialist and employee assistance program coordinator for the Massachusetts Prevention Center at CAB Health and Recovery Services, Inc., now known as Lahey Behavioral Health, from March 1994 to March 1999. She earned her bachelor of science degree in Health Education from Pennsylvania State University. She is a certified prevention specialist.

The new coordinator will be introduced to the town during the Board of Selectmen’s meeting on Monday, Nov. 5, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Al Merritt Media and Cultural Center. In an interview with the Villager, Selectmen Chairman Dick Dalton said he is looking forward to working with Sallade.

“My wife and I met with her for an hour, and we came away very impressed with her knowledge about substance abuse,” said Dalton. “From everything I have heard from people, she comes highly recommended and is well respected by her peers.”

Selectman Phil Crawford, who serves as A Healthy Lynnfield’s Steering Committee chairman, agreed.

“All of the stars aligned,” said Crawford. “Peg is one of the top substance abuse prevention coordinators in the state. For her to be available at the same time the grant was awarded to the town is extremely fortunate. I want to thank State Rep. Brad Jones and State Sen. Brendan Crighton for getting the grant so the town can fund that position.”

Jones and Crighton were able to secure the $50,000 grant in the FY’19 budget.

“I’m pleased Senator Crighton and I were able to work together to secure this critical funding piece in the state budget for Lynnfield,” said Jones in a recent statement sent to the Villager. “This money will enhance Lynnfield’s efforts to address the public health threat posed by substance abuse.”

Crighton echoed Jones’ viewpoint.

“Substance abuse is an issue that touches families throughout the commonwealth,” said Crighton in a recent statement. “I’m proud to join with leader Jones to advocate for this important initiative and look forward to continuing our collaborative work with the Lynnfield community.”