A grass-roots program started by the Camarillo Chabad to help prevent underage drinking and drug use in Camarillo was recently awarded a $625,000 federal grant.
The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration recently announced it would give the fiveyear grant for $125,000 a year to Saving Lives Camarillo, community based drug and alcohol prevention group that was created by the Camarillo Chabad.
The money was given through the federally funded Drug Free Communities Support Program.
“The Drug Free Communities grant will allow Saving Lives Camarillo to implement strategies that will reduce underage access to alcohol and address the rise in marijuana use among Camarillo youth,” said Rabbi Aryeh Lang, the coalition’s director.
“Through the collaborative efforts of the schools, law enforcement, the faith community, businesses, healthcare, youth and parents, we will reduce injuries and deaths in the community caused by underage drinking and drug use.”
Lang said that in addition to expanding the coalition’s programs, the money will be used to hire a full-time coordinator.
According to the California Healthy Kids Survey, 30 percent of Camarillo seventh-graders report consuming their first full drink by the age of 12. By 14, more than half—56 percent—of ninth-graders reported having used alcohol.
Aside from alcohol, marijuana is the drug most commonly used by Camarillo youths. Nearly 25 percent of ninth-graders reported having used marijuana by the age of 14. By 16, nearly 40 percent of high school juniors said they’ve used marijuana, and survey data shows Camarillo’s youths have slightly higher marijuana use rates than their peers throughout the state.
Lang said the coalition will focus on reducing underage drinking and youth marijuana use.
“Data show that communities receiving DFC funding have seen significant reductions in past 30- day use of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana among middle and high school students,” said Gil Kerlikowske, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
The Drug Free Communities program provides grants to community coalitions that facilitate citizen participation in local youth drug prevention efforts, including underage drinking programs.
Saving Lives Camarillo is one of 718 such coalitions across the country funded by the Drug Free Communities Program.
Saving Lives Camarillo recruits new members and encourages a broad base of community involvement.
to #10) the link does not work
you deserve every cent. ZM
I am both a Lubavitcher (non-shliach) and a substance abuse treatment expert. You can find out about my work at http://zohari.typepad.com. – Nachshon Zohari, LCSW
no 6 well said.continued hatzlocho to all shluchim with your challenges!
the picture of this article is of the Royal Prince Edward visiting Chabad Lubavitch Centre Ilford UK which is directed by Rabbi Aryeh Sufrin – he runs the Drugsline Chabad.
Yasher Koach Aryeh!!!
Yeilchu Meichoyil el choyil!
Old Fans in the heartland!
I am delighted that a picture of our programme based in Ilford Essex UK has been used to enhance this article.
Sadly, this is a reality that Shluchim do need to deal with with. However, with such broad agendas as shluchim that we have to deal with, each and every shliach does NOT need to know all the details, we have to be comfortable and trusting enough to say, this is not my field of expertise BUT I know a good realiable colleague of mine that can assist. Hatzlocho.
You are right, that i don’t realize how many etc. Please enlighten me. Indeed, how many shluchim spend more than an average of 1 hour per week (52 hours per year) on this mandate? I do not doubt that there are some shluchim heavily involved in this, (London comes to mind) but they are few and far between. PS. I am on shlichus, and do not have this in my active file, nor do the 3 other shluchim in my area. Please realize that i am in no way knocking this particular shaliach, Rabbi Lang, nor his wonderful grant. I… Read more »
Keep it up!
PS Starks to Ewing, back to Starks for 3 ….. ITS GOOD!
#2,you obviously don’t realize how much shluchim in many communities have to deal with issues of drug abuse by yidden.this is a heartbreaking but unfortunately real part of shlichus.once one is on shlichus,one realizes “the mandate” is far broader then you ever could have imagined.
Notwithstanding the importance of the project, the shluchim mandate is not drug prevention. if you think they should implement the program in order to access the funding, dream on!
This sounds like a program that can be duplicated by many shluchim. I hope shluchim work together to find out how to take advantage of this opportunity.