South Carolina to receive more than $2.5 million in DOJ grants to combat addiction crisis
COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO)– U.S. Attorney Peter M. McCoy Jr. announced that the District of South Carolina is the recipient of more than $2.5 million in grants from the Department of Justice to fight drug abuse and addiction in the state. These grants come as a part of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs which are providing over $341 million across the nation to combat addiction. Funding for these programs come from OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, National Institute of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
“The addiction crisis has taken an enormous toll on America’s families and communities, eroding public health, threatening public safety and claiming tens of thousands of lives year after year,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Through comprehensive measures taken by this administration, we have been able to curtail the opioid epidemic, but new and powerful drugs are presenting exceptional challenges that we must be prepared to meet. The Justice Department’s substantial investments in enforcement, response, and treatment will help us overcome these challenges and work towards freeing Americans from abuse and addiction.”
Officials say illicit and illegal drug use have claimed the lives of over 400,000 Americans this century.
The four counties in the state receiving grants from the Department of Justice are:
- Oconee County: $585,693
- Lancaster County: $590,757
- Colleton County: $483,599
- Richland County: $500,000
The South Carolina Department of Public Safety is also receiving $430,032 in grants.
A full list of grant recipients throughout the nation can be found here. For more information about the Office of Justice programs, visit www.ojp.gov.
