The Bay State's U.S. Senate delegation has secured nearly $3 million dollars in federal funds for Massachusetts organizations dedicated to fighting drug abuse, the senators' offices announced Monday.[img_assist|nid=30|title=Sen. John Kerry (D-Boston)|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=123|height=180]

Twenty-nine Bay State organizations will receive a total of $2,837,743 through the Drug Free Communities Support Program.

"Drugs threaten our kids and our communities," U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Boston) said in a statement. "These education and community-wide prevention efforts will save lives. I am glad tht so many of our state's great programs will receive the financial help they need to keep our neighborhoods safe, healthy and drug-free."

The program was created by the Drug-Free Communities Act of 1997 and is under the direction of the White House Office [img_assist|nid=33|title=Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Hyannis Port)|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=174|height=180]of National Drug Control Policy in partnership with the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration. It is designed to aid state programs that fight youth drug use.

"The health and safety of the nation's children should be a top priority for the Congress," Melissa Wagoner, a spokesperson for U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Hyannis Port), said in a statement. "This funding is important in enabling our communities to develop positive environments for children to thrive and reach their full potential, and avoid the use of drugs."