Special to Iredell Free News

Drug-Alcohol Coalition of Iredell (DACI) has been selected to receive the Drug-Free Communities Support Program (DFC) grant awarded by the Centers for Disease Control.

DFC is the nation’s leading effort to mobilize communities to prevent youth substance use and provides grants up to $125,000 per year for five years to community coalitions to strengthen local partnerships and create and sustain a reduction in local youth substance use.

After five years, coalitions may reapply for another five-year cycle.

In September, the CDC announced $13.25 million in grants to 52 new and 54 competing continuations Drug-Free Community Coalitions to prevent and reduce substance use in individuals 18 years of age or younger.

DACI will use this grant to focus on the alarming rise of vaping and underage drinking among the youth in Iredell County.