7 Essex County Schools Received Grants For Opioid Prevention

SALEM, MA – Seven North Shore towns will participate in a new opioid prevention program with grants from Attorney General Maura Healey. Healey announced a total of $700,000 awarded to organizations across the state for school-based and community prevention programs.

Healey announced the funding for the opioid prevention programs on Tuesday morning at Collins Middle School in Salem.

"We will never get control of this epidemic until prevention becomes a priority," said Healey. "With these grants, we will partner with schools and community organizations to empower young people and protect the next generation from falling victim to this public health crisis. But, these grants are only a start, we must continue to address this unmet need."

Students from Salem, Beverly, Haverhill, Newburyport, Gloucester, Marblehead, and North Andover will participate in the effort. Healey’s Youth Opioid Prevention Grant Program will provide funding over two years to 25 school districts as well as law enforcement agencies, nonprofits, and community health organizations. The programs will deliver evidence-based prevention programs to students at all grade levels about the dangers of opioid and other substance use.

"The Beverly Public School District is most grateful for the generous award from the Attorney General’s office," said June Kazes, Nurse Leader for Beverly Public Schools. "This funding will go a long way in assisting our on-going efforts to implement meaningful programs designed to empower our students to make healthy, well-informed lifestyle choices for themselves."

Marblehead was also awarded a Youth Opioid Prevention Grant.

"This will provide an invaluable opportunity to further develop a sustained, effective evidence-based prevention curriculum in Marblehead, designed to proactively address the opioid epidemic in Massachusetts," said Marblehead Superintendent Maryann Perry. "Additionally, we will be providing a parent education component on reducing risk factors and strengthening family and community engagement. These collective efforts will support our work in promoting safe and supportive school environments and wellness programming for approximately 1,500 students in grades 7-12. Substance-use prevention and social-emotional health is a critical need across the Commonwealth, and we look forward to making a difference for Marblehead students, parents and the community."

"Addiction grabs hold at a young age," wrote Healey in a tweet. "By supporting our students, we can push back against the opioid crisis in a big way."

Watch video of the announcement here:

Image via Massachusetts Attorney General's Office