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DES MOINES, IOWA -- The Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy, ODCP, announced Wednesday more than $4 million in federal grants has been awarded to 36 drug prevention, treatment and enforcement initiatives throughout Iowa.  Grants include funding from the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant  (JAG) and Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) program.

“As new drugs emerge to pose additional threats to Iowans, and at a time when national reports indicate youth drug abuse is on the rise again, these resources will provide timely help to many communities,” said ODCP Director Mark Schouten.  “These federal grants leverage precious local resources to strengthen coordinated efforts aimed at protecting Iowans from drugs and drug-related criminal activity.”

ODCP will make a total of $4,286,631 in JAG/RSAT grants available for the State fiscal year beginning July 1.  New grants will be invested in 76 personnel working in multi-jurisdictional drug enforcement task forces, offender treatment and supervision programs and substance abuse prevention projects serving nearly the entire state. 

“Many Iowa communities are safer places because of the important initiatives supported by these grants,” said Schouten.

ODCP grant-funded projects produced the following results in State fiscal 2010:

-22 tons of illegal drugs, valued at $48 million, seized.

-275 drug trafficking organizations disrupted or dismantled.

-520 firearms confiscated.

-2,180 recipients of drug prevention and treatment services.

The Byrne Justice Assistance Grant and Residential Substance Abuse Treatment programs are administered at the federal level by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance.

For more information on ODCP or its Iowa grant programs, go to www.iowa.gov/odcp.

Local communites receiving grant money are....

Burlington 
Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force
$84,000

Centerville        
South Central Iowa Drug Task Force                                       
$142,000

Keokuk                                                
Lee County Narcotics Task Force                                              
$90,000

Iowa Eighth Judicial District                    
Mental Health Services                                                                
$131,000

Information provided by Iowa Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy