THOMPSON ANNOUNCES 10TH YEAR OF FUNDING FOR CATALYST COALITION

WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) today announced that the Napa County Catalyst Coalition has received $125,000 in federal Drug-Free Communities Support Program grants to help our local community prevent use of illegal substances among youth.

"These grants provide Napa County with the resources we need to help prevent youth substance abuse, and organize our community around the goal of having healthy kids and drug-free communities," said Thompson. "The best way to reduce drug use is to stop it before it starts, and that's what these federal grants are all about. I am proud to support them."

Over the past nine years, the Catalyst Coalition, a program of the Napa County Office of Education, has partnered with local schools, families, organizations and businesses in Napa County to identify and address the most pressing issues related to youth drug and alcohol use. According to the 2013 California Healthy Kids Survey for Napa County, first use of alcohol among 9^th graders in Napa County has declined 18 percent since 2005, when Catalyst first started. In addition, first use of marijuana among 9^th graders has declined 11 percent since the Catalyst youth marijuana prevention initiative began in 2011.

With the collaboration of the cities, county and law enforcement, Napa County now has streamlined its social host ordinances so that they are easier to enforce, with more meaningful consequences. Other initiatives include a retail alcohol signage campaign, youth marijuana prevention, and new e-cigarette policies in the schools and community to protect children.

For more information about the Napa County Catalyst Coalition, visit CatalystCoalition.com.

Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California's 5^th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and chairs the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.

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