Area Receives Funding for Drug & Alcohol Abuse Programs

The University of Arkansas at Monticello, in partnership with Drew County Hometown Health Improvement, has received funding for initiatives to promote the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse.

The funding is being provided by the Office of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention of the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services. Drew County is one of 15 Arkansas counties approved to receive funding for the program by the state’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Coordinating Council.

The program will receive $150,000 each year from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. Monies will be focused on alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes involving injuries and fatalities.

A strategic plan for the county’s use of the funds will be developed and the implementation of a prevention model that has been researched and proven successful in other locations will be used. Arkansas rates are considered high in underage drinking and alcohol-related crashes according to information gathered from the 2005 Arkansas Needs Assessment Student Survey and various other data sources.

Other programs receiving the funding, which began in October, are: Madison County Community Coalition; Drug Free Rogers Lowell, Benton County; Ozark Health Foundation and TEA Coalition Inc., Van Buren County; Stone County Drug Abuse Prevention Committee; Izard County Hometown Health Coalition; WISE, White County; Randolph County Cornerstone Coalition; ATOD Coalition of Lawrence County; Scott County Health & Education Coalition; Perry County Hometown Health Advocate Team; Cross County Alcohol & Drug Abuse Prevention Coalition; Garland County C.A.R.E.S.; Drug Free Communities Coalition, Miller County; and TOUCH Coalition, Union County.

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