About us
Of Substance Media is working to become one of the world’s most respected clearinghouses of reliable and refined information on harms associated with substance use.
We collaborate with experts worldwide to explain the evidence-based science and public information that promote health and positive outcomes for individuals, families and communities. Our initial focus is on healthy brain development and the harms of marijuana use.
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Who we are
David Downes
Chief Executive Officer
David is the founder of Downes & Associates, a consulting business that focused on small businesses, typically in the areas of marketing and general management.
His career began in newspaper and magazine publishing, where he worked with Landmark Communications, Gannett and several Time Warner companies. David left print publishing for Time Warner Cable, where he lead a group in the development of new business for cable and was the new business and technology liaison between Time Warner corporate and Time Warner Cable’s business development function. His last corporate assignment was with US West, a regional Bell operating company, where he ran a marketing resources company, a part of the unregulated side of US West.
Since then, David has been involved with several entrepreneurial startup businesses.
Jo McGuire
Executive Director
Jo McGuire has served as an advocate for youth drug prevention and drug-free workplaces for more than a decade. As a member of the board of directors for the Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association and co-chair of the International Marijuana Education Committee, she seeks to provide educational resources for employers worldwide. Jo provides consultations and trainings for professionals overseeing Safety Sensitive Employees in the compliance of federal DOT guidelines for drug and alcohol screening programs to include writing workplace drug policies.
As a member of the Pikes Peak DUI Task Force, a community collaborative in Colorado that strives to improve road and driver safety by reducing impaired driving, Jo educates local high school students and soldiers at Fort Carson on the risks associated with marijuana use and the effects on the ability to perform duties safely. She also assists educators with classroom and assembly-style presentations aimed at youth drug prevention and parent awareness education through Colorado’s Drive Smart program.