Senators announce $270,000 to curb high school alcohol abuse

Baucus, Tester Say Frenchtown Students Will Benefit From New Prevention Programs

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Montana's U.S. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester today announced a grant to help keep students in Frenchtown, Montana from abusing alcohol. 

The $271,010 grant will be distributed over the next 3 years to the Frenchtown School District outside of Missoula through the Alcohol Abuse Reduction Grants Program.  The dollars will be spent developing new programs to decrease the social acceptability of underage drinking, create after school programs to help students find other ways to spend their time and help young people already struggling with alcohol abuse.  School administrators will also use the funding to hire a new counselor to coordinate the programs.

"This is great news because this grant has the power to save lives," Baucus said. "I'm committed to doing what's right for Montana- creating good paying jobs and keeping our state the last best place. Part of that is doing all we can to help our kids make the right decisions."

"Underage alcohol abuse represents a serious public health threat," Tester said.  "These funds will put the right tools in the hands of professionals who can really help protect our kids.  This grant will help ensure a bright future for young people in Frenchtown."

Grants like this help local educational agencies develop and implement innovative and effective alcohol abuse prevention programs for high school students.  To qualify for the dollars the programs must aim to reduce binge drinking and change students' perceptions of harm in using and abusing alcohol.

 Development District, Inc, which serves Cascade, Glacier, Pondera, Teton and Toole Counties.