~ PVN staff report
LURAY — Earlier this month, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced the allocation of $625,000 for community-based coalitions in Harrisonburg, Roanoke, Ashland, Rocky Mount and Luray to reduce youth substance abuse.
These coalitions engage multiple community stakeholders to address and prevent youth substance use. The funding was awarded through the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program.
“The substance use crisis has tragic impacts for communities across Virginia, and we all need to do more to find solutions to address this epidemic,” the Senators stated in a July 12 press release. “We’re proud that this federal funding will help communities come together to prevent youth substance use disorder, support young people with substance use disorder, and make our communities safer.”
The funding will be distributed as follows:
- $125,000 for Faces 4 Change Drug Free Community Coalition in Harrisonburg. In August 2022, Kaine met with leaders from Faces 4 Change Drug Free Community Coalition and local community members in Harrisonburg to discuss efforts to address substance use disorder.
- $125,000 for Roanoke Prevention Alliance in Roanoke
- $125,000 for Hanover Cares Coalition in Ashland
- $125,000 for Focusing on Response and Education to Stay Healthy in Rocky Mount
- $125,000 for Page Alliance for Community Action (PACA) in Luray
Warner and Kaine have long championed efforts to combat the opioid crisis and support individuals with substance use disorder. Last year, Warner and Kaine cosponsored the Telehealth Response for E-prescribing Addiction Therapy Services (TREATS) Act, which would increase access to telehealth services for individuals with substance use disorder.
Three of Kaine’s bipartisan bills to address the substance use crisis—the Providing Empathetic and Effective Recovery (PEER) Support Act, the Strengthening Communities of Recovery Act, and the Advancing Research for Chronic Pain Act — were passed by the HELP Committee in 2023.
Last year, significant portions of Kaine’s bipartisan Disrupt Fentanyl Trafficking Act were signed into law to direct increased federal attention to fentanyl trafficking.
•••
RELATED ARTICLES
RAM needs volunteers for free, two-day healthcare clinic
Page One receives $10,000 grant from Valley Health
Lord Fairfax Health District recognizes National Fentanyl Awareness Day
Page County Free Clinic partners with PACA and Steel Valley Fitness to offer wellness programs
PACA swim program among non-profits to receive total of $18,000 from SVEC’s Operation Round Up
PACA awarded Virginia ABC grant to educate students on harmful effects of alcohol and drugs
PACA and Arise benefit from Operation Round Up awards of nearly $24,000 to area organizations
PACA receives $125K grant to promote a ‘drug-free community’
Be the first to comment