Prevention Partners awarded $130,000 of $12.4 million statewide grant

U.S. Sen Patrick Leahy announces a federal grant for substance abuse prevention at the Vermont State House in early July.

Windsor County Prevention Partners is slated to receive $130,000 from a $12.4 million federal grant beginning in July 2016 to help reduce prescription drug abuse, marijuana use and underage drinking among youth and young adults in Vermont.

The grant award was announced in early July by U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy and Gov. Peter Shumlin. The five-year prevention grant, funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will support statewide expansion of Vermont’s Regional Prevention Partnership program.

Windsor County Prevention Partners is a partnership of law enforcement, prevention and community organizations working to reduce underage drinking, binge drinking and prescription drug abuse for those 12 to 25. Several substance abuse prevention coalitions throughout Windsor County are working together in what Sen. Leahy describes as “a comprehensive, strategic and statewide approach to breaking the cycle of drug and alcohol addiction before it starts.” The prevention coalitions making up WCPP include: Mt. Ascutney Prevention Partnership, the Collaborative, Ottauquechee Community Partnership, Black River Area Community Coalition and Health Connections of the Upper Valley as well as the Vermont Department of Health White River Junction office.