Providence, RI – U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) announced today that ten Rhode Island Drug Free Communities (DFC) coalitions have been awarded a total of $1.25 million from the White House Office of National Drug Policy (ONDCP) to combat the overdose epidemic and prevent youth substance use. Whitehouse, Chairman of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control and a Senate leader on addiction recovery issues, helped secure more than $100 million for the DFC program in the most recent government funding bill.
“We need a comprehensive and community-centered approach to turn the tide in the fight against the addiction epidemic that has taken an enormous toll on families across Rhode Island,” said Whitehouse. “Our state’s Drug Free Communities coalitions are best-equipped to stop drug use before it starts so that kids never have to struggle with addiction. I’m pleased to have helped secure this federal funding to support those efforts on the ground.”
The Drug Free Communities Program is the nation’s leading effort to mobilize communities to prevent youth substance use. The DFC Program provides grants to community coalitions to strengthen the infrastructure among local partners to create and sustain a reduction in youth substance use.
The following Rhode Island organizations each received $125,000 in grant funding:
- East Providence Prevention Coalition
- RISAS Kent County Prevention Coalition
- Cranston Substance Abuse Task Force
- Newport Prevention Coalition
- Portsmouth Prevention Coalition
- Adamsville Strategic Prevention Partnerships (SPP)
- Burrillville Prevention Action Coalition (BPAC)
- Warren Prevention Coalition
- Johnston Prevention Coalition
- Woonsocket Prevention Coalition
Whitehouse’s landmark Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act improved the DFC program with the addition of new Local Drug Crises Grants aimed at supporting DFC grant recipients. In January, Whitehouse introduced the bipartisan Drug-Free Communities Pandemic Relief Act to increase flexibility to DFC coalitions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meaghan McCabe, (401) 453-5294
