MASSENA -- The Massena Drug Free Community Coalition is getting a $625,000 federal Drug-Free Communities Support Program grant.

The money will enable the coalition to hire a full-time coordinator, provide training for staff and members, support environmental strategies, media and marketing campaigns and other attempts to reduce drug and alcohol use in Massena, according to the coalition.

"Our coalition is comprised of nearly forty members and advisors. Now we can hire a full time coordinator that will strengthen our efforts. Imagine the impact our coalition will have on Massena with a full time professional dedicated to this important effort. This is significant and this will improve our community a great deal." said coalition chair Timmy J. Currier.

Massena Drug Free Community Coalition will specifically work to address marijuana and prescription drug use. The substances to be addressed were determined based on a data analysis process which included youth and adult survey data, a student focus group, and incident and police department reports, the coalition said.

“The Massena Drug Free Community Coalition has already made strides toward preventing drug use in Massena,” said Felicia Neahr, coordinator for Cultivating Healthy Communities and Massena Drug Free Coalition member. “This grant will help to continue and expand the efforts that have already begun. Being awarded a Drug-Free Communities Support Program grant is a significant accomplishment for the Coalition.”

Massena Drug Free Community Coalition came about as a result of the Massena Prescription Drug Misuse Task Force that was formed in January 2012. The task force and the coalition's accomplishment include the placement of a drop box in the police station lobby, where citizens can safely dispose of unwanted prescription drugs, a public relations campaign aimed at creating awareness and reducing misuse of prescription drugs, the wide implementation of a Narcotics Use Agreement between providers and patients, providing Applied Suicide Prevention Training (Asist) for various professionals and volunteers to help reduce suicides, launching the We Care Walk in Center, We Care Response Team and initiating We Care for Veterans, absorbing the Massena Central Schools Safe and Drug Free Advisory Council to broaden the community effort, conducting needle sweeps of playgrounds and parks, distributing free drug kits to parents under the Trust But Verify program and working to launch a Peer Delivered Needle Exchange Program, the coalition said in a prepared statement.

The Massena Drug Free Community Coalition meets the fourth Tuesday of every month at 2 p.m. at Massena Memorial Hospital. Anyone interested can contact Currier at 769-3577.