WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) announced the continuation of key grants for Duffy’s Hope ($125,000) and Open Door ($125,000) from the federal Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program.

“Unfortunately no community is immune to the threat of substance abuse and the deadly disease of addiction,” said Senator Carper. “Far too often these days as I talk to Delawareans up and down the First State, I hear tragic stories of promising young lives cut short by the scourge of addition. This is a crisis that requires an all hands on deck approach and this federal funding is an important part of that effort. I know that the programs offered at Duffy’s Hope and Open Door will save lives by focusing on the root causes of addiction and teaching vulnerable at-risk youth the best ways to succeed in life.”

“I’ve seen the amazing impact that both Open Door and Duffy’s Hope have in our communities, and they could not be more deserving of these important grants” said Senator Coons. “We all need to work together to combat the opioid crisis, and I’m very glad that these two organization are receiving the federal support they need to protect, heal, and guide young people in Delaware.”

“Since our first grant awards were made in 1998, the DFC Program has continued to expand its reach in communities across the country.  It is a testament to the great work DFC coalitions are doing, together with community partners that include parent groups, schools, healthcare professionals, law enforcement, businesses, and others to prevent drug use and improve the health of communities,” said James Carroll, Deputy Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. “Our local DFC coalitions are a key part of this effort because they are relentless in their coordinated and focused work to prevent youth from initiating drug use and ultimately, saving more lives.”           

Prescription drug abuse prevention is one of the core measures of effectiveness for local DFC coalitions, and coalitions nationwide have led innovative opioid prevention initiatives. DFC’s 2017 National Evaluation End-of-Year Report found that at least 97% of middle school and 94% of high school youth report that they have not misused prescription drugs in the past 30-days in DFC communities.

 

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