Thanks to $600,000 from the U.S. government, the Martinsville City Schools in Virginia will be starting an Alcohol Abuse Reduction Program. The federal grant will help fund increased prevention and counseling services in city schools.

"After three years of the Alcohol Reduction Program in Martinsville schools, officials aim for a 37 percent overall decrease in substance abuse, reductions in negative attitudes and behaviors, and increased decision-making and resistance skills."

The grant money will also fund two new positions in the schools and several new programs. One of the programs, Positive Action, has been used in other districts, which have reported drops of up to 71 percent in drug, alcohol and tobacco use as a result of the initiative. Source: Martinsville Bulletin

Labels: counseling, prevention, schools