Thirty-one schools in six Arizona counties recently won funding for drug and alcohol abuse prevention programs from Gov. Doug Ducey’s office through the High School Health and Wellness Program.

Both traditional and public charter high schools vied for the incentive, which will be administered through the governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family in continued support of youth protection and education. Each school will run evidence-oriented primary prevention programs with the funding and receive supporting materials.

“Competitive school-based prevention grants, such as this, not only support school systems but also encourage collaborative partnerships between the school and local substance abuse coalitions, non-profits and other community resources,” Debbie Moak, director of the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family, said in the announcement.

Arizona’s High School Health and Wellness Program is founded on the principle that student engagement in positive school activities geared toward healthy behaviors can reduce the use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs.

“In order to foster healthy, drug-free behaviors we must engage in early, evidence-based prevention programs,” Ducey said. “The dollars provided through the High School Health and Wellness program will enable school administrators to engage in proactive measures to prevent drug and alcohol abuse and increase the well-being of Arizona’s youth.”