United Way of Union County announced it has received $35,000 from the Cardinal Health Foundation’s Generation Rx Prescription Drug Misuse Prevention Education for Youth grant program.
The grant was awarded to the United Way for use by the Union County Drug Free Coalition to provide implementation of interventions.
“This grant will support the efforts of the Union County Drug Free Coalition to educate youth about the risks of prescription medication and the importance of making healthy choices,” said Shari Marsh, operations director of the United Way of Union County.
The United Way of Union County was one of more than 40 organizations across Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia to receive a prevention education grant from the Cardinal Health Foundation.
As part of Cardinal Health’s Opioid Action Program, the Prescription Drug Misuse Prevention Education for Youth grants are designed to expand medication safety education for students in schools and universities, using Generation Rx educational materials.
The Union County Drug Free Coalition began in 2009 and provides a coordinated approach to substance abuse prevention efforts, which includes reducing the risks associated with the misuse and abuse of prescription medications among youth.
“All of the organizations selected for funding share our goal of turning the tide on the opioid epidemic,” said Jessie Cannon, vice president of community relations at Cardinal Health. “Ultimately, we expect our grantees to learn from each other—and we will learn from them. As they develop best practices, our goal is to spread this work throughout the country, and foster solutions to this complex public health crisis.”
To learn more about the Union County Drug Free Coalition, its ongoing efforts and prevention resources to fight the opioid epidemic, visit www.ucdrugfree.org.