Vt. youth: Steer clear of drugs
Toolbox
By Josh O'Gorman STAFF WRITER - Published: August 21, 2009
LUDLOW — The Black River Area Community Coalition has a simple but difficult mission: help young adults stay off of tobacco, alcohol and drugs. And with a $100,000 federal grant, they'll continue to fight the good fight.
The Ludlow-based organization — which also serves teens in Mount Holly and Plymouth — is one of 14 across the state to receive $1.2 million in federal grants, according to an announcement from Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy and independent Sen. Bernard Sanders.
"Vermont communities are working to apply practical approaches to address drug and substance abuse in our state," Leahy said. "Communitywide efforts like these in Vermont are helping us make steady progress in addressing this issue, which affects rural areas just as it affects big cities."
"This federal support for ongoing efforts to encourage young people to steer clear of drugs is a significant step forward for Vermont," Sanders said.
The Drug-Free Communities Support Program Continuation Grants are available for five years in a row for qualifying organizations, which must provide matching dollars for the grants. For BRACC, which has received the funds the last five years, the battle to stop teen drinking must begin at home.
"We are continuing to reduce access to alcohol, and that means educating parents," said BRACC Coordinator Brigid Sullivan. "A lot of the kids are getting alcohol from right next to the milk in the refrigerator."
Ryan Simpson, coordinator for the Bennington-based Southshire Substance Abuse Coalition, which was also awarded $100,000, agreed that for teens, drinking begins at home.
"We're hoping to focus on social access," Simpson said. "What we're finding is that youth aren't getting alcohol from stores but from older siblings and from unmonitored alcohol at home."
"The process involves the entire community," said Jennifer Flannery, executive director of The Collaborative, whose Manchester-based organization also received $100,000.
"At this time, people's interests might be piqued in The Collaborative," Flannery said, noting recent high-profile teen drinking parties in East Dorset, Shaftsbury and Sunderland.
Through its "Refuse to Use" program, the Collaborative offers to teens who sign a pledge a pass to either Stratton Mountain, Riley Rink in Manchester or the Viking Nordic Center in Londonderry.
"Part of what we're doing is helping the community be aware of all the new things out there," Sullivan said, noting new "alco-pop" beverage Joose. "It's totally geared to kids. Go online and look at the Web site. We got $100,000, but there's no way we can fight against the marketing efforts of these large corporations."
Other southern Vermont organizations to receive grants include the Deerfield Valley Community Partnership in Wilmington, which received $89,000, and the Windsor Area Community Partnership, which received $100,000.
josh.ogorman@rutland herald.com
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