Pubdate: Thu, 30 Sep 2004
Source: Sun Herald (MS)
Copyright: 2004, The Sun Herald
Contact:  http://www.sunherald.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/432
Author: Ryan LaFontaine, The Sun Herald
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

GRANTS TAKE AIM AT DRUG ABUSE

YMCA, Long Beach Group Receive Funds

HARRISON COUNTY - Two South Mississippi organizations have been awarded 
nearly $200,000 in federal grants through a Drug-Free Community support 
program from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

The Mississippi Gulf Coast YMCA will receive $100,000 for drug prevention 
and awareness. The group plans to use part of the money to conduct drug use 
and perception surveys in schools and residential areas in parts of Biloxi 
and D'Iberville.

Another portion of the money will help the YMCA establish a media campaign 
to increase awareness of youth drug problems.

"The grant will help to better the Drug-Free Coalition in Harrison County," 
said Michelle Shows, YMCA program manager. "It will also give the coalition 
enough money to hire a full-time coordinator."

The YMCA recently received $115,000 from the Department of Health and Human 
Services to use for mentoring programs for children of inmates. The 
association is awaiting approval of a grant from the Federal Department of 
Education to help fight childhood obesity.

The Long Beach Substance Abuse Task Force will also receive $95,888 in 
federal grants.

The grant is in addition to $39,000 the task force received earlier this 
year to launch a research-based community development program, Communities 
That Care. CTC aims to reduce problem behaviors, including substance abuse, 
among children.

Harrison County is one of only 10 communities nationwide selected this year 
by Purdue-Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, for the $25,000 grant. The task 
force also has a $14,000 grant from the Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi.

Fred Walker, task force chairman, said the latest grant will go a long way 
to help oversee the task force's efforts to evaluate countywide resources 
and coordinate solutions.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager