Montco Community College Gets $41K Grant To Fight Opioid Scourge

BLUE BELL, PA — Montgomery County Community College has received a major federal grant to combat the opioid epidemic.

The school has received $41,905 to expand their opioid preventative programs available to students. The programs may include raising campus awareness, reducing stigma, increasing access to overdose reversal trainings, and grief support.

“We consistently attack the state’s opioid crisis from all angles, and this grant will enable additional focus on an integral part of our work – prevention,” Gov. Wolf said in a statement. “Educating college students on the risk of opioid use and training institutions of higher learning on how to administer naloxone are two ways we can save lives and lessen the impact of this crisis.”

The funding, which was secured by Gov. Wolf's administration, comes from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

In Pennsylvania, college-aged residents aged 18 to 30 are one of the highest hit demographics, officials noted. Montgomery County and southeastern Pennsylvania have not been immune.

"I’m happy to see resources being allocated to fight opioid addiction and save lives within our local community and I look forward to seeing Montgomery County Community College become a leader in the fight to eradicate addiction," State Rep. Liz Hanbridge (D-61) said in a statement. "It’s crucial that we prioritize prevention and sustained recovery to ensure our college students understand the risks and are able to get the help if they do have substance use disorder."

All told, nearly $1 million was disbursed to 13 different colleges and universities around Pennsylvania, including MCCC, West Chester, and nearby Immaculata.

And it's not the only opioid outreach work being done at MCCC. The school is hosting the premiere of "Kensington in Crisis," a documentary film analyzing the opioid crisis where it's hit Philadelphia the hardest.

It's made by Jill Frechie, a part-time filmmaker and computer science instructor at Montco. The premiere will take place on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 3 p.m. at Parkhouse Hall Atrium.