Sebastian County Opioid Task Force wins $625,000 grant

FORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The Sebastian County Opioid Task Force has received a $625,000 federal grant to help prevent youth substance use in the area.

The funds, provided through the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program, will be distributed over five years at $125,000 annually to support efforts in preventing youth substance use in the area.

The Task Force will formally announce the grant at a press conference scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 15 at the Blue Lion, located at 101 North 2nd Street in downtown Fort Smith.

“This grant will allow us to better collaborate with parents, students, and families in the 72901 zip code as we focus our collective expertise and resources on this critical issue,” Sebastian County Sheriff and Task Force Chair Hobe Runion said.

Administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the DFC program aims to reduce youth substance use by providing resources to local coalitions working to address specific issues in their communities.

With this grant, the Sebastian County Opioid Task Force will focus on preventing the use and abuse of substances like THC and opioids among youth.

“Preventing substance use today is critical to ensure that today’s youth do not become tomorrow’s overdose victims,” Helen Hernandez, Administrator of the DFC Program at ONDCP, said. “We are thrilled to award this grant because we know DFC-funded coalitions can achieve significant outcomes when implementing evidence-based prevention strategies.”

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