To Fight Drug & Alcohol Abuse, East Brunswick To Apply For 2 Grants

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ – Council passed two resolutions to authorize the Township to apply for grants to help prevent drug and alcohol abuse in the community.

The first resolution allows the township to apply for the Youth Leadership funding through the Division of Mental Health Services, to the amount of $5,000. The second authorized a grant application to Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (GCADA)through Middlesex County.

The GCADA grant is for $18,627 with a cash match of $4,656.75.

Councilman Kevin McEvoy has asked for an explanation on both resolutions before it was voted on, to give the community an idea of why the township was applying for the grants.

“We're talking about recognizing the abuse of alcohol and drugs, which is a serious problem in our society amongst persons of all ages,” McEvoy said. “I asked to get it pulled so that we could have more clarification on exactly what's going on here. Because it is paramount to ensuring the well-being of the members of our community.”

Business Administrator Joe Criscuolo explained what will be done with the funds.

The Youth Leadership fund will help the Township’s Municipal Alliance Committee to start programs and bring educational partners to help combat drugs and alcohol abuse.

The township will partner with the library to discuss the book non-fiction book
Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America," which was made into the TV miniseries on Hulu, "Dopesick."

“We're going to partner with the library, and the youth council, and other educational areas for adults and kids that want to be in a book group discussion - not just the movie, the book is much more impactful,” Criscuolo said.

In September, East Brunswick got additional funds to fight drug and alcohol abuse after some other towns did not use the funds allocated to them by the state.

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