$625K Will Go A Long Way To Combating Addiction In The Hudson Valley

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Treating and preventing addiction can save untold costs, both financial and societal — a new investment in programs in the Hudson Valley might very well pay for itself in short order.

Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney announced earlier this week that federal grants worth $625,000 have been awarded to drug use prevention organizations throughout the Hudson Valley. The funding comes from the Drug-Free Communities Support Program, which Maloney has voted to support in the past, including advocating to increase the program's budget in this year's funding legislation. The organizations who will be receiving the $125,000 grants to further their work are from Westchester, Putnam, Orange and Dutchess counties.

"Addiction has devastated far too many lives, here in the Hudson Valley and all across America. While more work remains, I’m excited to announce that another $625,000 in federal funding is on its way to support local organizations working to treat and prevent addiction in our communities," Maloney said. "I’ve long been a supporter of the Drug-Free Communities Support Program because I’ve seen how organizations in the Hudson Valley can put federal funding to good use to help people live healthy, productive lives."

The organizations that were awarded grants are:

• Mount Kisco Partners in Prevention, which aims to reduce underage drinking, illicit drug use and prescription drug abuse among youth by strengthening community collaboration and taking action guided by the best available research. This is their 10th year receiving DFC funding.
• Somers Partners in Prevention, works to build a safer community by helping youth stay alcohol and drug free by fostering local advocacy, widespread awareness and open communication. This is their 5th year receiving DFC funding.
• Carmel Communities that Care Coalition, a sub-coalition of the Prevention Council of Putnam, whose mission is to build a safe and healthy family-oriented community by reducing harmful substance use among adolescents. This is their 4th year receiving DFC funding.
• Council on Addition Prevention and Education of Dutchess County, an organization headquartered in Fishkill and dedicated to fighting addiction by educating families, emphasizing prevention and harm reduction efforts, and engaging in compassionate care. This is their 4th year receiving DFC funding.
• Warwick Valley Prevention Coalition helps Warwick youth, families and community members understand how substance use disorders develop and take an active role in preventing addiction. This is their 5th year receiving DFC funding.

“Our goal is to make Carmel a safe and drug-free place for our youth,” said Kristin McConnell, Executive Director of the Carmel Communities that Care Coalition. “Prevention is a powerful tool to counteract drug use in our community, and we will use this funding to help youth in Carmel make healthy choices about substance use.”

Created in 1997 as part of the Office of National Drug Control Policy in the Executive Office of the President, the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program is the country's leading effort to combat youth substance use. Through funding from the annual government appropriations process, the program supports organizations that adopt a whole-community approach to preventing addiction among teens and young people. DFC-funded organizations coordinate prevention efforts among 12 community sectors, including youth, parents, schools, health care professional and law enforcement. Find out more about the program here.