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08-05-2004a

Page history last edited by PBworks 17 years, 6 months ago

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Executive Department

State House Boston, MA 02133

(617) 725-4000

 

 

MITT ROMNEY

GOVERNOR

 

 

KERRY HEALEY

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

August 5, 2004 CONTACT:

Eric Fehrnstrom

Nicole St. Peter

617-725-4025

 

 

 

HEALEY ANNOUNCES $550,000 GRANTS TO COMBAT HEROIN USE

Fall River receives $80,000 to fund Safety and Substance Abuse Action Project

 

FALL RIVER - Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey today announced the release of $550,000 in state grants to combat heroin addiction among youths across the Commonwealth. Healey was joined by local officials to award an $80,000 grant to the City of Fall River for their heroin prevention program.

 

“Many people do not realize that heroin addiction is a problem that affects every corner of our state,” said Healey. “There is a stereotype that heroin was just in the inner cities. That stereotype, like so many others, is wrong. Heroin addiction is in the suburbs; it’s in rural areas; it affects all segments of our population.”

 

Addiction to heroin and other opioids is a serious substance abuse challenge in Massachusetts. The Bay State has among the highest proportion of individuals admitted for treatment of heroin use of all the New England states. An even more sobering fact is that the admission rate in Massachusetts is three times the national average.

 

Last fall, the Romney/Healey Administration created the Inter-Agency Heroin and Other Opioids Initiative to fight heroin addiction in Massachusetts. The first major result of this initiative is the series of grants announced today that will work to prevent heroin and opioid abuse among children and adolescents at the community level.

 

“I’m very pleased with the support shown by the state, Governor Romney, Lieutenant Governor Healey and our legislative delegation,” said Mayor Edward M. Lambert, Jr. “In the war on drugs, we can only succeed with partners and I'm grateful for their help and co-operation.”

 

According to Healey, since studies show heroin addiction to be widespread, all community organizations must be involved in order to find solutions to prevent its use. Municipalities receiving these awards are required to use a broad coalition of individuals to develop and implement their strategic plans. Professionals from all areas of the war on drugs - from prevention, treatment, recovery and law enforcement - will be involved in developing and implementing these plans.

 

“I am pleased to involve the Fall River Police Department in this collaboration that will focus on both enforcement efforts within the community to target the distribution and use of heroin and an education component that will be delivered through our Citizen's Police Academy with a strong focus on awareness and prevention of the use of illegal substances in our community,” said Fall River Police Chief John Souza.

 

Five communities that already have heroin prevention programs focused on youths and that have been up and running for at least one year will receive $80,000 implementation grants, including Fall River. Planning grants of $10,000 each will be awarded to 13 municipalities that have formed diverse coalitions to help them develop a youth focused plan to prevent heroin and other opioid use and abuse.

 

“Funding from this program will support the Fall River Safety and Substance Abuse Action Project--adapting elements of our Healthy City Action Plan into a multi-level comprehensive plan to prevent and reduce heroin use in Fall River,” said Michael Coughlin, Director of Health and Human Services. “Four environmental strategies will be employed: Enforcement, Education, Communication, Collaboration. All sectors of the community will be involved in the effort, including the Police Department, neighborhood organizations, and youth serving organizations.”

 

Key elements of the Fall River project include a community-based seminar series on substance abuse prevention sponsored by the Police Department, public service announcements to promote Fall River as a safe and drug free community, expanded neighborhood crime watch efforts by neighborhood associations and education and counseling efforts targeting specific communities.

 

###

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS HEROIN AND OTHER OPIOIDS COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING

AND IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS

 

 

$10,000 PLANNING GRANTS

Boston (Charlestown)

Concord

Everett

Gloucester

Greenfield

Lynn

Melrose

New Bedford

Stoughton

Watertown

Westford

Weymouth

Winchester

 

$80,000 IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS

Boston (Allston-Brighton)

Chelsea

Fall River

Malden

Somerville

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