DAVIS, WAMP PRAISE ANTI-DRUG COALITION RESOURCES FOR ROANE COUNTYAugust 28, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressmen Lincoln Davis and Zach Wamp today announced that the Roane County Anti-Drug Coalition will receive a grant from the Drug-Free Communities Program through the Office of National Drug Control Policy to continue its work to prevent and reduce drug and alcohol abuse among youth.

"We must educate and protect our youth from the dangers of drugs in as many ways as possible," Congressman Davis said. "Roane Countians are well served by the efforts of the Anti-Drug Coalition and its federal partners."

"Efforts to keep our youth drug-free are critical to communities throughout East Tennessee," said Congressman Wamp. "This federal funding will give the Roane County Anti-Drug Coalition even more resources and tools to tailor the national initiative of preventing drug and alcohol abuse to the needs of its local communities."

The Roane County Anti-Drug Coalition was formed in April 2003 in response to the alarming number of drug overdose deaths in Roane County. The Coalition's goals are to reduce substance abuse among youth by addressing the factors that increase the risk of substance abuse and strengthening collaboration among nonprofits and all levels of government.

The Coalition works to achieve these goals by using a variety of strategies, including providing information through community forums, media campaigns and school outreach programs; enhancing skills through training and education; providing support and building outreach to youth, business and faith communities; increasing access to treatment and prevention resources; offering incentives by increasing police patrols in areas of high drug activity; providing drug-free activities for youth; ensuring that counselors are visible in the school system and instituting coping skills sessions in the school curriculum.

Through a competitive grant process, the Roane County Anti-Drug Coalition was selected as one of 90 community coalitions to receive first-year funding grants. The Coalition's grant will be for $100,000.