Harris Announces $250,000 in Drug Abuse Grants to Eastern Shore

WASHINGTON, DC: Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) announced the award of two $125,000 federal grants to Cecil County and Mosaic Community Solutions (Pocomoke City) for their drug free communities programs.  The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy awarded the grants through the Drug-Free Communities Support Program.  This program provides grants to community coalitions to strengthen the infrastructure among local partners to create and sustain a reduction in local youth substance use. Recognizing that local problems need local solutions, funded coalitions engage multiple sectors of the community and employ a variety of environmental strategies to address local substance use problems.  Coalitions are comprised of community leaders, parents, youth, teachers, religious and fraternal organizations, healthcare and business professionals, law enforcement, and media. By involving the community in a solution-oriented approach, the program also helps those youth at risk for substance use recognize that the majority of our nation’s youth choose not to use drugs. 

Recently, Congressman Harris had the opportunity to host Jim Carroll, the Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, in Easton for a drug abuse roundtable. 

Rep. Andy Harris made the following statement on the awards:

“It was a pleasure to host Director Carroll on the Eastern Shore this past summer.  Multiple Drug-Free Community Coalitions were in attendance at the conference, and I thank Director Carroll and his team for awarding these grants to my district.  I have met with coalition members in the past, including the Cecil County coalition on multiple occasions.  I never cease to be impressed with the young men and women, the dedicated adult volunteers, and all the work they do each year to prevent substance abuse within our local communities.”

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