HAYESVILLE - A drug-use prevention program in one of Western North
Carolina's smallest counties is set to make a big impact on the
region. Advertisement

The Coalition for a Safe and Drug Free Clay County started two years
ago with donations and volunteers. Today, it will receive $300,000
from the federal government that will be parceled out to the state's
seven western counties to pay for similar coalitions. The counties
will get $36,000 each, with the remainder used for covering coordination costs.

The group focuses on preventing middle and high school students from
using alcohol and tobacco, which it believes leads to harder drugs.

The coalition has been successful in implementing drug-use prevention programs.

Clay County recently took the unusual step of adding students who
apply for parking permits to its random drug test list. The testing
starts this fall.

Sheriffs, county government leaders, school officials, religious
leaders, state lawmakers and court officials from seven counties will
meet today to learn how the coalition works and how to start a
similar organization.

Coalition coordinator Stephen Smith said Clay County's size - about
10,000 people - helped it form a grass-roots organization and quickly
made a difference.

"Sometimes it's good to be small," he said. "There is a lot of
passion in small, rural communities."

And Clay's size didn't hurt its fundraising ability.

The $300,000 grant is in addition to a separate $500,000 grant the
coalition received earlier this year from the federal Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Administration.

The larger grant required the coalition to raise $100,000 a year in
matching funds. That kind of funding is a far cry from the $25,000 in
donated money the group started with in 2004.

Smith credited U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor, R-Brevard, who is running
for re-election this year, with getting the grant approved.

Taylor said Wednesday in a written statement from his chief of staff
that he was proud to secure funds to expand the coalition's work to the region.

"When you look at the tremendous problem our region has experienced
recently with methamphetamine and other illegal drugs, it's clear
that educating our children about the dangers of substance abuse is a
wise and worthwhile investment," he said in the statement. "The
Coalition for a Safe Drug Free Clay County has done a wonderful job,
and I am optimistic that we will see similar results as we expand the
program into these other counties."

Smith said the counties would get their share of the grant money
after listening to the presentation today and submitting plans for
creating coalitions. The money will be used to cover start-up costs, he said.

In addition to drug testing student drivers, the coalition helped
implement a program called the "Mendez Too Good for Drugs" in the
schools. The program helps teachers start drug-abuse awareness with
children as young as kindergarten-age.

Schools Superintendent Scott Penland said he's excited that the
coalition's efforts are moving to the region.

"I think this coalition has really been good for Clay County," he
said. "It's not just the schools, it's the whole community working together."