Manchin, Capito Announce Funding For Youth Substance Use Prevention In Elkview

Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Joe Manchin

October 25, 2021

Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $125,000 from the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to the Regional Family Resource Network in Elkview through the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program. The DFC program helps establish collaboration among communities to prevent and reduce substance use among young people. In 2020 alone, 1.6 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 struggled with substance use disorder.

“West Virginia continues to be ravaged by the drug epidemic, and it is especially heartbreaking to see West Virginia’s youth struggle with substance use disorder. The Drug-Free Communities Support Program in Elkview plays a critical role in preventing substance use disorder among young West Virginians by partnering with local partners and community leaders. As we continue to fight the drug epidemic that impacts every West Virginian, I will keep advocating for funding to combat the drug epidemic in the Mountain State,” said Senator Manchin.

“As we continue to battle the opioid epidemic, we have found that community based solutions work. The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) program is a perfect example of those kind of solutions. No two places in West Virginia are the same, and our approach towards substance use prevention needs to reflect the specific issues individuals in our different communities are facing. Providing support for drug prevention coalitions in our state will help bring us closer to ending the addiction crisis, while preventing our youth from going down the wrong path. I’m proud to support the DFC coalitions in West Virginia and look forward to the impact this funding will have in Elkview,” Senator Capito said.