Pubdate: Fri, 23 Jun 2006
Source: Asheville Citizen-Times (NC)
Copyright: 2006 Asheville Citizen-Times
Contact:  http://www.citizen-times.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/863
Author: Jon Ostendorff
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

HAYESVILLE - A drug-use prevention program in one of Western North 
Carolina's smallest counties is set to make a big impact on the 
region. Advertisement

The Coalition for a Safe and Drug Free Clay County started two years 
ago with donations and volunteers. Today, it will receive $300,000 
from the federal government that will be parceled out to the state's 
seven western counties to pay for similar coalitions. The counties 
will get $36,000 each, with the remainder used for covering coordination costs.

The group focuses on preventing middle and high school students from 
using alcohol and tobacco, which it believes leads to harder drugs.

The coalition has been successful in implementing drug-use prevention programs.

Clay County recently took the unusual step of adding students who 
apply for parking permits to its random drug test list. The testing 
starts this fall.

Sheriffs, county government leaders, school officials, religious 
leaders, state lawmakers and court officials from seven counties will 
meet today to learn how the coalition works and how to start a 
similar organization.

Coalition coordinator Stephen Smith said Clay County's size - about 
10,000 people - helped it form a grass-roots organization and quickly 
made a difference.

"Sometimes it's good to be small," he said. "There is a lot of 
passion in small, rural communities."

And Clay's size didn't hurt its fundraising ability.

The $300,000 grant is in addition to a separate $500,000 grant the 
coalition received earlier this year from the federal Substance Abuse 
and Mental Health Services Administration.

The larger grant required the coalition to raise $100,000 a year in 
matching funds. That kind of funding is a far cry from the $25,000 in 
donated money the group started with in 2004.

Smith credited U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor, R-Brevard, who is running 
for re-election this year, with getting the grant approved.

Taylor said Wednesday in a written statement from his chief of staff 
that he was proud to secure funds to expand the coalition's work to the region.

"When you look at the tremendous problem our region has experienced 
recently with methamphetamine and other illegal drugs, it's clear 
that educating our children about the dangers of substance abuse is a 
wise and worthwhile investment," he said in the statement. "The 
Coalition for a Safe Drug Free Clay County has done a wonderful job, 
and I am optimistic that we will see similar results as we expand the 
program into these other counties."

Smith said the counties would get their share of the grant money 
after listening to the presentation today and submitting plans for 
creating coalitions. The money will be used to cover start-up costs, he said.

In addition to drug testing student drivers, the coalition helped 
implement a program called the "Mendez Too Good for Drugs" in the 
schools. The program helps teachers start drug-abuse awareness with 
children as young as kindergarten-age.

Schools Superintendent Scott Penland said he's excited that the 
coalition's efforts are moving to the region.

"I think this coalition has really been good for Clay County," he 
said. "It's not just the schools, it's the whole community working together."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman