Alberta grants raise awareness about dangers of drugs including fentanyl

The Alberta government is supporting police and their community partners in their efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of drug use.

Grants totalling $240,000 are being provided for 17 projects, including:

• School programs to connect students to cultural activities and increase youth’s awareness around substance abuse, while educating students on prevention and early intervention services.

• Community programs to increase awareness of drug problems with improved education about the dangers of drug use and discussions among parents, children and stakeholders to educate citizens about different drugs and their risks.

• Film projects involving students in the creation and production of a video regarding drug risks.

• Training to criminal analysts in Alberta to build a provincial network for analysts to increase professional capacity.

“These grants will be used to increase awareness of the dangers of drug abuse and opioid use in our communities, with the ultimate goal of saving lives. I thank Alberta’s law enforcement agencies and their community partners for their continued efforts to ensure Albertans are informed and kept safe.”

Kathleen Ganley, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General

The Proceeds of Crime grants have been offered to Alberta police services and their community partners to support awareness and prevention programming or activities that increase understanding about drug use in communities.

The Proceeds of Crime Fund is a joint provincial-federal fund directed specifically at law enforcement for activities relating to crime prevention and drug education. The grants are supported with funds forfeited to the province following federally prosecuted Criminal Code offences. The grants are a maximum of $20,000 per project for a maximum 18-month period.