The Little Compton-Tiverton Prevention Coalition has been awarded a $125,000 grant to combat youth substance use in the area. The funding, announced by U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, and Congressman Gabe Amo, comes from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program grant will support the coalition’s efforts to address marijuana and nicotine use among youth aged 12-18 in Little Compton and Tiverton, which have a combined population of 19,887.
“This is a smart investment in public health and student well-being,” said Senator Reed, emphasizing the importance of local efforts to prevent substance use among youth. Senator Whitehouse, author of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, highlighted the role of the DFC program in supporting healthy youth development. Congressman Amo echoed this sentiment, stating, “We must come together to invest in community prevention efforts and support evidence-based local prevention to help our next generation.”
The Little Compton-Tiverton Prevention Coalition Coordinator, Brian Gough, expressed enthusiasm for the grant, stating that it will allow the coalition to implement strong programs and activities to reduce substance use among local youth. The DFC Support Program, established in 1997, is a nationwide initiative aimed at preventing youth substance use through community-based coalitions. This funding reflects the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to supporting youth prevention efforts, as highlighted by ONDCP Director Dr. Rahul Gupta.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.
