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Washington, D.C. – 125,000 dollars of federal funding is coming to Wahkiakum County to help fight the war on drugs thanks to the work of Congressman Brian Baird (D-WA-03). Baird helped secure the money as part of the Drug Free Communities Support Program. The Wahkiakum Community Network Drug Free Community Initiative is one of just 199 new grantee recipients across the country.
“This new funding will help mobilize and organize Wahkiakum County resources to better prevent and reduce substance abuse,” said Congressman Baird. “Programs like the Wahkiakum Community Network are an invaluable resource to help keep kids from using drugs.”
“All kids need adults who care about them, and adults they can count on. Our programs help to make sure kids in Wahkiakum County have that critical support at a critical time in their life,” said Lia Sealund, Program Director of Community Network. “We are very grateful for the grant and grateful to the Congressman for his support.”
Nationwide, 568 facilities in 48 states received a share of the more than 55 million dollars in funding. According to the National Office of Drug Control Policy, these programs are partly responsible for a 25 percent decline in youth drug use in the past 5 years.
“Today, 860,000 fewer kids are using drugs than in 2001,” said John Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy. “Together as a Nation we have make significant progress in our efforts against substance abuse. Groups like The Wahkiakum Community Network Drug Free Community Initiative are important partners in pushing back against the harms of drug use.”
The money will help fund general operations for community based organizations that reach out into the schools, through drug prevention, or other school based clubs from October 2008 through October 2009. Each community must match every federal dollar it receives.
“Since I founded the Meth Caucus in Congress, kids are getting the message, that meth use is a one way ticket to nowhere,” said Congressman Baird. “What we spend on these programs is a drop in the bucket compared to the cost in money and lives associated with meth addiction,”
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