Several Vermont community coalitions together will receive a total of more than half a million dollars in anti-drug grants, Sen. Patrick Leahy announced.

The Department of Justice Drug Free Community Support Grants will augment community efforts to fight substance abuse among young people. The coalitions receiving the grants are made up of law enforcement units, health care professionals, government agencies, and families working together to reduce youth drug use. Six of the 94 grants awarded nationally will go to Vermont.

Illegal drug use, particularly of heroin, is becoming a serious problem in Vermont. Heroin is known to be highly addictive, cheap and easy to get. Recent drug raids in Rutland City turned up more than 1,000 bags of heroin, according to recent reports.

"As we have seen, Vermont is not immune from big-city problems, like heroin, which has the potential to devastate young lives and families," said Leahy. "I am pleased that these grants will go to the front lines to support the fight against drug abuse at the community level."

Leahy is a member of the Commerce-Justice-State Appropriations Subcommittee which approves funding for the Department of Justice and he is the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee which oversees the agency’s programs.

Congress established this program as part of the Drug-Free Communities Act of 1997. The Justice Department’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is administering the program with the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

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