Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D- R.I.) today applauded passage of their amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) reauthorization that expands drug and violence prevention grants to provide recovery support services to students in schools and communities working to overcome addiction.
The Every Child Achieves Act authorizes grant programs to address drug abuse and violence prevention in schools and communities across the country. The grants are used for drug abuse prevention, early intervention, rehabilitation referral and efforts to raise awareness about the consequences of drug use. This amendment adds recovery support services to help students in the recovery process from drug abuse and addiction.
“Preventing drug abuse and helping those who suffer from addiction is an issue that can break through partisan divides, and I applaud today’s passage of this amendment. Too often, our young people are on the front lines of dangerous drug use that can lead to addiction, and we need to do more to equip them as they choose a better path.” said Portman. “Addiction is a common enemy that everyone should be willing to fight. I am confident we can overcome these challenges if we take a comprehensive approach that starts on the local level – addressing this issue in our homes, schools, and communities.”
“Too many young people across the country are exposed to the pressures of drug use and the risk of addiction every day,” said Whitehouse. “We should do everything possible to protect our children and communities from these dangers, and we should also support those students who are fighting back against addiction. This amendment will help ensure that in-school recovery programs have the resources they need to support those brave students walking the path to recovery.”
Portman and Whitehouse are also authors of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2015 which provide a series of incentives and resources designed to encourage states and local communities to pursue a full array of proven strategies to combat addiction. This legislation includes provisions to expand prevention and educational efforts—particularly aimed at teens, parents and other caretakers—to prevent the abuse drugs and to promote treatment and recovery.
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