WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has awarded a $125,000 grant to the Montgomery County Prevention Coalition to implement comprehensive community-wide strategies to address the local drug crisis and prevent substance abuse in youth. These funds will be used to help the coalition conduct prevention programs across the community, educate youth on the dangers of alcohol and substance abuse and expand resources for safe prescription drug disposal. The Montgomery County Prevention Coalition serves more than 535,000 residents in the area.

“We can’t end this public health crisis without first educating our youth about the dangers of substance abuse,” Brown said. “This much needed investment will help the Montgomery County Prevention Coalition ensure youth in the region have the tools and resources they need to make better decisions and prevent substance abuse.”

These funds are a part of the ONDCP’s Drug-Free Community (DFC) Program, which works in cooperation with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to support local communities as they mobilize individuals and organizations to prevent youth substance use by providing local solutions to solve local problems.

Brown has been fighting to ensure ONDCP stays fully funded. 

In February, after President Trump proposed cutting ONDCP’s funds by $340 million, Brown pushed the administration to follow through with action on the Opioid Emergency Declaration. And after urging the Administration to fill key drug policy positions within the ONDCP office, Brown met with President Trump’s nominee to head ONDCP.

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