Harris Announces Four Local Grants to Prevent Youth Substance Abuse

WASHINGTON, DC: Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) announced the award of four federal grants totaling half a million dollars to local coalitions to prevent youth substance abuse.

The Grants awarded $125,000 each to:

• Cecil County for the Cecil County Drug-Free Communities Coalition.
• Bayshore Community Counseling Services, Inc. in Crisfield for the Crisfield Community Prevention Works Drug Free Coalition.
• 360 Degree Development Institute, Inc. in Pocomoke for the Somerset Prevention Works Drug Free Coalition.
• Community Services and Research Center in Pocomoke for the Pocomoke City Drug Free Coalition.

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy awarded the grants through the Drug-Free Communities Support Program. This program provides grants to community coalitions to strengthen the infrastructure among local partners to create and sustain a reduction in local youth substance use. Recognizing that local problems need local solutions, funded coalitions engage multiple sectors of the community and employ a variety of environmental strategies to address local substance use problems.

Coalitions are comprised of community leaders, parents, youth, teachers, religious and fraternal organizations, healthcare and business professionals, law enforcement, and media. By involving the community in a solution-oriented approach, the program also helps those youth at risk for substance use recognize that the majority of our Nation's youth choose not to use drugs.

The Drug Free Communities Support Program is a matching federal grant where each community provides a minimum of a one-to-one match in local funding for each federal dollar awarded, effectively doubling the government investment.

Rep. Andy Harris made the following statement:

"These grants help address a critical need in our communities – preventing youth addiction and substance abuse. As a member of the Committee on Appropriations, I applaud the award of these federal grants from the White House Office of the Drug Czar. Our families and local communities need these resources to help protect children from opioids, marijuana, alcohol and nicotine. As a physician and the father of six children, I understand the dangers facing our kids. Protecting our families is a top priority."

For media inquiries, please contact Congressman Harris' Washington, DC office at 202-225-5311, or contact John Dutton at John.Dutton@mail.house.gov.