Dedham Police Receive Grant to Fund Substance Abuse Program

The Dedham Police Department received a grant to fund an informative substance abuse program at the town’s middle school next year, announced Chief Michael D’Entremont and Superintendent Michael Welch Monday.

“We believe that early prevention efforts are more successful than intervention endeavors down the road, especially among our young teenage groups,” Chief D’Entremont said. “Keeping our community safe, especially the children, is a key responsibility of the police department. This program will go a long way in making Dedham a safer place for our youth.”

The Edward J. Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant nearly totals $22,000 and is a result of the collaboration between the Dedham Police Department and the School Department.

The grant will fund a Botvin LifeSkills Training Program at Dedham Middle School starting in the fall of 2015.

Botivin LST is a highly effective, evidence-based substance abuse and violence prevention program that teaches drug refusal skills and it also promotes anti-drug norms.

The Caron Treatment Center will present the program to all 8th grade students at the Dedham Middle School. Six Dedham school staff members, a juvenile police officer and a school resource officer will be trained as program facilitators.

“This grant will help the school department expand on its already great LifeSkills Training Program,” Superintendent Welch said. “We’ve seen positive results working with our middle school students, who complete the program with a variety skills in their warehouse they can use to make smart decisions preventing drug and alcohol abuse and violence.”

The police and school departments hope to reduce the age of onset drug use through the initiative.