The Metropolitan Drug Commission has been chosen, along with 10 other East Tennessee counties, to receive a new state grant targeting prescription drug abuse among young people.
The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services secured the Federal Partnership for Success grant to run public awareness campaigns and community-based prevention and enforcement efforts over the next five years.
Commissioner Doug Varney stated the overall goal is to reduce prescription drug abuse among 12- to 25-year-olds by at least four percent.
The program targets Anderson, Blount, Hamilton, Jackson, Johnson, Knox, Putnam, Smith, Sullivan and Washington counties.
These counties represent 41% of Tennessee’s population.
“We are honored to have received this grant and look forward to seeing the results that come from it,” said Executive Director, Karen Pershing.