$4.2M awarded for drug prevention

Money spent

State drug use prevention funding to area law enforcement agencies:

Greene County: $78,224

Miami County: $126,295

Montgomery County: $172,719

Warren County: $79,432

State grants worth $4.2 million were awarded for drug abuse prevention programs that put police officers and deputies into area schools to talk to children about the dangers of drugs, according to a news release from Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray.

Cordray on Friday announced the grants to 200 local law enforcement agencies. Spokeswoman Kim Kowalski said the money comes from fees paid by people convicted of drunken driving. The $4.2 million is an estimated amount that will be available this year, based on previous years’ receipts.

The grants pay for school-based programs to teach kids about the dangers of drug abuse and how to make smart decisions. The money covers half the base pay of officers and deputies working in the programs serving about 414,000 students in 61 counties, according to Cordray’s news release.

“They’re basically giving kids a positive message about themselves, putting tools in the toolbox for how to say no to drugs and violence,” said Chief Deputy John Newsom of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.

Typically the money pays for Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE), but can also be used for other anti-drug programs.

In Montgomery, Greene, Miami and Warren counties, 21 law enforcement agencies received nearly $457,000 of the money. The largest area grant — $68,481 — went to the Troy Police Department.

“I think it’s a great program. If it keeps one kid from doing it, it is worth the expense,” said Troy police Capt. Chris Anderson.

Anderson said the money is helpful in difficult economic times and is used to fund three officers who work in DARE or as school resource officers at the elementary, junior high and high schools.

“It makes quite an impact on the kids,” Anderson said. “They will recognize by face and by name their elementary school DARE teacher throughout their lifetime.”

Newsom said some studies have questioned the effectiveness of DARE, while others show it works. In his view, the program — which puts two Warren County deputies in the schools — does keep kids from using drugs. And it exposes 1,300 students annually to a deputy, teaching them to be more comfortable around law enforcement officials.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7455 or lhulsey@DaytonDailyNews.com.