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BOSTON - Mayor Thomas M. Menino and public health officials today applauded Governor Deval Patrick for providing a much needed boost to the city’s substance abuse prevention efforts. The state awarded the Boston Public Health Commission nearly $2 million over the next three years to help fund neighborhood groups working to combat drug and alcohol abuse.

“The state funding is absolutely critical to our work to stem substance abuse in the city of Boston,” Mayor Menino said. “It will enable us to enhance the support we provide to community-based organizations who work with individuals, families, and neighbors struggling with addiction.”

About $320,000 in first-year grants will fund NoDrug coalitions in Allston-Brighton, Chinatown, Dorchester, and South Boston. The money - totaling $960,000 over three years - will allow the groups to expand their efforts to prevent and reduce alcohol and other drug abuse, with particular emphasis on underage drinking.

A second set of first-year grants totaling $340,000 are earmarked for NoDrug coalitions in the South End, Charlestown, Jamaica Plain/Roxbury, and South Boston. These groups, which will get about $1 million over three years, will focus on preventing and reducing fatal and non-fatal opioid overdoses.

“These funds come not have come at a better time as new data show the extent of the challenges we face in Boston in combating substance abuse,” said Barbara Ferrer, the Commission’s executive director. “It’s a problem that must be tackled from the ground up, and these funds will allow us to continue the community mobilization work that we know can make a difference.”

Mirroring national and statewide trends, substance abuse deaths in Boston rose to 176 people in 2006 from 133 in 2005, according to the Commission’s recently released Health of Boston report. In 2007, nearly 87 percent of those seeking admission to public treatment centers were between the ages of 19 and 49.

In 2004, in response to the demand for substance abuse services and the rampant use of oxycontin and heroin among the city’s youth, Mayor Menino and the Commission created and funded 16 NoDrug neighborhood groups throughout Boston. Since then, the coalitions have been helping residents and communities tackle substance abuse and assisting neighborhoods in organizing and implementing
prevention and education activities.

“We are extremely grateful to the state and the city of Boston for helping us continue our success in reducing the effect of opiate abuse and addiction,” said Beth Rosenshein, coordinator of the Charlestown Substance Abuse Coalition. “It’s because of this type of funding that opiate overdose
calls from Charlestown to Boston Emergency Medical Service declined 17 percent between 2003 and 2006, and drug-related mortality rates decreased 41 percent between 2003 and 2005.”

As the City's health department, the Commission has a 25-year history of providing addiction treatment services, including community outreach and referral, outpatient services, methadone treatment, residential treatment, transitional housing, and services to homeless drug users. For more information, contact the Commission’s Substance Abuse Services at 617-534-5554.

List of grantee organizations:
(Note: Amounts listed below are awarded per year for three years)

Underage Drinking Prevention Grants

• Allston-Brighton Substance Abuse Task Force – $80,000
• Chinatown Coalition Underage Drinking Prevention - $80,000
• Dorchester Substance Abuse Coalition - $80,000
• South Boston CAN – $80,000

Opioid Prevention Grants

• Charlestown Substance Abuse Coalition - $80,000
• Jamaica Plain/Roxbury No Drugs Coalition - $100,000
• South Boston Hope and Recovery Coalition - $80,000
• South End Healthy Boston Coalition - $80,000

- BPHC -