SAFE Great Meadows

About

SAFE (Substance Awareness for Everyone) is a regional initiative committed to preventing substance use and promoting wellness across the communities of Bedford, Carlisle, Concord, Lincoln, Sudbury, Wayland, and Weston.

Led by local public health departments, SAFE coordinates collaborative efforts to address substance use at both the youth and adult levels. Our work focuses on education, outreach, resource sharing, and supporting evidence-based strategies that reduce harm and build resilience in our communities.

SAFE serves as the backbone for our region’s substance use prevention efforts—offering consistent messaging, identifying gaps in services, and supporting programs that meet local needs. Whether we’re helping schools implement prevention curricula, organizing Narcan trainings, or raising awareness through community events, our goal is simple: to make it easier for residents to find support and stay healthy.

Our Mission: To support safe, informed, and healthy communities by promoting education, prevention, and harm reduction strategies around substance use. We believe in meeting people where they are, reducing stigma, and building lasting connections to care.

Advisory Committee

Our Advisory Committee brings together local public health leaders from across the region to guide and oversee SAFE’s mission. Together, they help shape priorities, evaluate programs, and ensure our work remains rooted in community needs.

• Melanie Dineen – Concord Health Division
• Linda Fantasia – Carlisle Health Department
• Julia Junghanns – Wayland Health Department
• Kelly Pawluczonek – Weston Health Department
• Dan Pereira – Town of Lincoln 
• Heidi Porter – Bedford Health and Human Services
• Vivian Zeng – Sudbury Health Department