Two substance abuse prevention agencies to receive combined $3 million in grants

The Alcohol and Substance Abuse Council of Jefferson County, also known as Pivot, will receive $300,000 a year to establish their Healthy Jefferson County initiative, a substance abuse prevention program which will target people ages 12 to 25 in the city of Watertown, LaFargeville and the Belleville Henderson Central School district.

According to William Bowman, the executive director of Pivot, the grant will disburse $300,000 per year for five years. He said that the Healthy Jefferson County program focuses on keeping teens and young adults away from e-cigarettes, prescription drugs, alcohol and other substances.

The Police Activities League of Massena will also receive $300,000 per year for five years, to be put toward its Partnerships for Success Project.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which oversees the grants, Partnerships for Success is a program established to prevent and reduce the progression of substance abuse and its related problems. Under the program, recipients of the grant money are given broad latitude to identify the main problem substances in their communities and implement strategies to keep young people away from them.

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, announced in a news release that Pivot and the Police Activities League had received the grants Monday.

“I am proud to announce this important funding that will be put to good use and help these groups in their efforts,” she said in the release. “I understand the need for significant funding for agencies providing addiction services to offset revenue losses and additional expenses resulting from COVID-19.”