The Drug Free Boone County Coalition, based in Lebanon, is using fines and fees collected from persons charged with alcohol and other drug offenses to fund projects and programs in the county that reduce substance use.
The Coalition has chosen three areas of priority on which to focus: underage drinking and smoking, prescription drug abuse and adult alcohol and marijuana use.
“Being able to use the offender fees that the county collects is crucial in providing much needed support for prevention efforts and treatment services that are severely underfunded in our county,” said Penny Rader, director for the Boone County Court Intervention Services.
Coalition chair Lisa Hutcheson said, “Our county faces serious substance abuse issues that impact all of us – directly or indirectly. It is our privilege as a coalition to be able to respond to these issues with support and funding that strengthens the assets Boone County already has, such as great youth programming and evidence-based prevention and treatment programs.”
Drug Free Boone County is open to the public and meets every other month at Boone County Senior Services. Meetings are held from 4 to 5:30 p.m., and the next meeting will be tomorrow.