U.S. Senator Rob Portman announced Monday that the White House National Drug Control Policy has awarded more than $2 million in grant funding for drug-free community programs (DFC) throughout Ohio. Portman wrote the Drug-Free Communities Act in 1997, which supports community-oriented drug prevention programs. “The Drug-Free Communities program is a proven, evidence-based, and community-oriented program that reduces substance abuse among our nation’s youth. I authored this legislation more than 20 years ago during my time in the House of Representatives, and it remains today the most effective program for consistently reducing youth drug use. The COVID-19 pandemic had made our efforts to combat addiction much more difficult and this additional federal funding for Ohio will make a big difference,” Portman said.The CDC recently released data showing there were 107,622 drug overdose deaths in 2021. Officials said it’s the highest number ever recorded in a calendar year. The following programs each received $125,000 in grant funding: ADAMHS Board For Montgomery County - Montgomery County Prevention CoalitionAlcoholism Council of Butler County, OH, Inc. - Healthy HamiltonCounty of Erie, OH - Roots of Prevention (ROP)Crawford Marion Board of Alcohol Drug Addiction & Mental Health Drug - Free MarionFamily Recovery Center, Inc. - The Jefferson County United Prevention PartnershipGreater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services - Coalition for a Drug Free Clermont County (CDFCC)Knox Public Health - Knox Substance Abuse Action Team (KSAAT)McKinley Hall - Clark County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (SAC)Mental Health And Recovery Board of Union Co. - Mental Health And Recovery Board of Union CountyOhio Guidestone - Tuscarawas County Anti-Drug CoalitionOneeighty Inc. - Turning Point CoalitionPickaway Addiction Action Coalition - Pickaway Addiction Action CoalitionRichland Public Health - Mansfield RichlandSwanton Area Community Coalition - Springfield Area Prevention CoalitionTalbert House - Mental Health Recovery Services of Warren Clinton CoWilliams County Health District - Educating Communities on Healthy Opportunities (ECHO)Wood County Educational Service Center - Wood County Board of Education“I have seen firsthand that prevention is a powerful tool to counteract drug use in our community, and this funding will help these coalitions across the state, along with other coordinated local efforts with local partners, to save lives. With overdose deaths at an all-time high in this country, I am more committed than ever than doing everything I can to help ensure our Ohio communities have the resources and support they need to serve those in need during these unprecedented times," Portman said.