The Kalamazoo County Substance Abuse Task Force gets grant to fight drug abuse
KALAMAZOO -- The Kalamazoo County Substance Abuse Task Force has received a five-year, $625,000 federal grant to help prevent and reduce drug use among the county's youths.
The task force will use the money, awarded by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, to fund programs similar to the Smart Summer 2009 campaign, said Carla Winchester, assistant director of Prevention Works, which oversees the task force. The Smart Summer program used questions and fact sheets to encourage parents to monitor and mentor their children.
"We really want to focus on alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs, and we want to do it on the community level," Winchester said.
She said the grant money will expand a prescription-drug-awareness campaign, boost the county's referral system and start an anti-underage drinking campaign aimed at vendors and parents.
The task force will receive $125,000 each year and can reapply for five more years of funding.
The grant was part of $21 million in grants awarded to 161 communities across the country, according to Prevention Works.
Gil Kerlikowske, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, commended the Kalamazoo County Substance Abuse Task Force for its work to reduce youth drug use, a news release stated.
Winchester said the funding will be available on Oct. 1, and some of the new programs could be in place by early next year.
Contact Aaron Aupperlee at aaupperlee@kalamazoogazette.com or (269) 388-8576.
Date: September 18, 2009
Source: Kalamazoo Gazette
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