U.S. Congressman John Boozman 3rd District of Arkansas

House Seal Outline

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Washington, Jul 28, 2008 -

U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor along with U.S. Representative John Boozman (AR-03) announced $200,000 to Arkansas’ Third Congressional District to help prevent and reduce youth drug use.

Fayetteville’s YouthCAN! Coalition and Fort Smith’s River Valley Tobacco and Drug Free Coalition will each receive $100,000 through a Drug Free Communities Support Program (DFC) continuation grant awarded by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).

“Young people are key to our state’s future, and we must do all we can to ensure that they have the support and resources they need to reject peer pressure and other factors that encourage drug use,” Lincoln said. “I know that Fayetteville and Fort Smith community leaders will use these funds wisely to help maintain a healthy, drug-free environment for the youth of Northwest Arkansas.”

“Local organizations provide the best local solutions,” said Pryor. “These well-deserved funds will help these anti-drug coalitions carry out their vital mission through additional education and outreach.”

“Keeping drugs out of the hands of Arkansas’ youth is something we as a community must work together to do to make our cities safer,” Boozman said. “Drug abuse is a serious problem and although there have been major gains on this front we must continue our efforts to keep drugs out of our communities.”

DFC offers grants of up to $500,000 over five years to community organizations that help local drug prevention efforts. Through programs like DFC, youth drug use has dropped by 25% in our country in the last five years.