Drug Free Community Coalitions Receive Funds for Benton and Madison Counties

U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor and Representative John Boozman (AR-03) today announced more than $245,000 for organizations in Arkansas' Third Congressional District dedicated to preventing and reducing youth drug and alcohol abuse.

Drug Free Rogers-Lowell, which serves Benton County, will receive $122,434 and the Madison County Community Coalition will receive $124,538 through Drug Free Communities Support Program (DFC) grants awarded by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

"We must do all we can to help young Arkansans avoid peer pressure or other factors that can lead to addiction," said Lincoln. "These funds will help community leaders in northwest Arkansas teach young people about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, and I'm pleased to see our state take proactive steps toward preventing drug use."

"We must prevent substance abuse problems before they start," said Pryor. "These grants provide communities with the necessary tools to fight back teen drug and alcohol abuse and keep our neighborhoods safe."

"Teaching the dangers of drugs and alcohol is the first step in addressing this problem that is a concern in communities all across Arkansas," Boozman said. "We must continue to work together at all levels of government to keep drugs and alcohol out of the hands of our youth and promote safe, healthy lifestyles."

These coalitions are only two of 199 new DFC grant recipients across the country. The DFC program provides grants of up to $625,000 over five years to community organizations that facilitate citizen participation in local drug prevention efforts.

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