FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: ONDCP Public Affairs
September 8, 2015 MediaInquiry@ondcp.eop.gov or 202-395-6618
White House Drug Policy Office Awards $625,000 to Local Coalition to Prevent Youth Substance Use in Sanford and Springvale
Grants Support Administration Efforts to Emphasize Prevention Among Youth
Washington D.C. – Today, Michael Botticelli, Director of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), announced 697 Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program grants, totaling $86 million. The grants will provide local community coalitions funding to prevent youth substance use, including prescription drugs, marijuana, tobacco and alcohol. Strategies for a Stronger Sanford/Sanford Strong Coalition from Sanford and Springvale was one of the grant recipients and will receive $625,000 over five years in DFC grant funds to involve and engage their local community to prevent substance use among youth.
“We know that evidence-based prevention efforts are the most effective way to reduce youth substance use and to support the roughly 90 percent of American youth who do not use drugs,” said Michael Botticelli, Director of National Drug Control Policy. “By bringing together schools, businesses, law enforcement, parent groups, and other members of the community, DFC-funded community coalitions are helping to protect youth from the devastating consequences of non-medical prescription drug use, heroin and other substance use.”
“Our goal is to make Sanford and Springvale a safe and healthy environment for our youth,” said Nichole Ivey, Certified Prevention Specialist with Strategies for a Stronger Sanford. “Prevention is a powerful tool to counteract drug use in our community, and we will use this funding to help youth in Sanford and Springvale make healthy choices about substance use.”
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is responsible for the day-to-day management of the DFC Program.
“Community coalitions continue to drive winning strategies at the local level to reduce the rate of substance misuse,” said SAMHSA Acting Administrator Kana Enomoto. “SAMHSA is pleased to join the Office of National Drug Control Policy in supporting communities that are bringing citizens together to create healthy and drug free environments for our youth.”
The Sanford Strong Coalition will specifically work to address alcohol, marijuana, and opiate use among youth in our community.
For more information about the Administration efforts to reduce drug use and its consequences, or to learn more about the Drug-Free Communities Support Program, visit: http://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/Drug-Free-Communities-Support-Program
The Office of National Drug Control Policy seeks to foster healthy individuals and safe communities by effectively leading the Nation’s effort to reduce drug use and its consequences.
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