Duncan Announces Drug-Free Community Grant for Loudon County

For Immediate Release

September 21, 2005

Washington, D.C. - Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr., (R-Tenn.) today announced a $99,600 Drug-Free Communities grant for the Loudon County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition. 

The President's Office of National Drug Control Policy awarded the federal funding, which will be used to prevent and reduce the abuse of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco among local youth.

The Loudon County Coalition is one of 700 organizations across the country receiving the highly competitive Drug-Free grant funding.  These local coalitions consist of community leaders, parents, children, teachers, religious leaders, law enforcement agencies, healthcare practitioners, and business professionals.

"The Loudon County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition is doing extremely important work within our area, and I am pleased this federal funding will help expand drug prevention efforts.  Ensuring that our young people receive information about the devastating impact of drug and alcohol abuse is crucial to achieving a drug-free community," Duncan said.

John Walters, Director of the National Drug Control Policy Office and President Bush's "Drug Czar," added: "As a nation, we have made significant progress in protecting our young people from the dangers of substance abuse, with a 17 percent reduction in drug use over the last three years.  This grant will help the dedicated citizens of Loudon County contribute even more to this effort and will help build on the important progress being made to keep our children healthy and drug-free."