The local coalition unites community members and organizations to battle aspects of the nationwide and local illegal drug use and trafficking problem. Not only illegal drugs but legal drugs used incorrectly, legal drugs that are abused, and all drugs have the potential for affecting a human embryo, McElligott pointed out in a document supplied to the Post-Dispatch. Almost every drug passes from a pregnant mother through the placenta to the fetus and mother’s who use drugs incorrectly can give birth to an addicted baby, according to the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin (CHW) and the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) websites.

The rising need for special services in education is seen by McElligott as evidence of the effects of drugs on fetuses. “Many learning, emotional and physical disabilities can be traced back to these issues,” according to McElligott.

Marijuana and cocaine use may cause behavioral problems in babies, premature delivery, high blood pressure, fetus death, sudden infant death syndrome, growth defects, intestinal abnormalities, learning problems and hyperactivity, according to CHW and OHSU websites. "Our current health care and legal systems are overwhelmed with the issues brought on by drug use and abuse,” according to McElligott who is convinced that the future regarding illegal drug use does not seem to be improving quickly.

McElligott sees the FDDC’s efforts as crucial to the future of the local area, its citizens and its schools. Next fall, the FDDC will sponsor a contest for visual, auditory, and multimedia public service announcements.