Project Grant NH28CE004126

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded $125,000 to Woonsocket Prevention Coalition Corporation on July 1, 2026, for Year 6 continuation funding under the Drug-Free Communities Support Program (CFDA 93.276) to prevent and reduce youth substance use in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

The Pawtucket Prevention Coalition implements all seven SAMHSA prevention strategies targeting alcohol, marijuana, and opioid use among middle and high school students. Activities include youth-led education campaigns, compliance checks, retailer education, NARCAN training, family outreach, and integration of evidence-based programs such as Creating Solutions for Independence and Towards No Drug Abuse. The coalition engages all twelve DFC coalition sectors and aligns implementation with the Strategic Prevention Framework.

The award funds expansion of partnerships and deepened outreach to families across Pawtucket's diverse communities, with evaluation using RISS data, community surveys, and coalition activity tracking. Performance of performance runs through June 30, 2031. The project targets a population of approximately 75,280 residents, over 21 percent of whom are under age 18, with goals to increase community capacity and collaboration and reduce youth substance use.