Contact: Peggy K. Goodwin, Project Safe Neighborhoods: 313.715.0199

Flint, MI – U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Murphy will join forces with Genesee County Sheriff Robert J. Pickell to launch an important initiative to prevent drug use among Genesee County youth today at 2pm in the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office. The program, “Law Enforcement Against Drugs,” (LEAD), will work in tandem with the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative to prevent and reduce gun and gang violence. In-home drug testing kits may be purchased by parents for a nominal cost and anonymously if they so choose. When used, the kits can detect various types of drug use, and each kit includes complete instructions. Kits will be available at the Genesee County Sheriff-Administrative Offices beginning on Monday, May 22 between 9am-4pm.

Sheriff Pickell urges parents to get involved and utilize this important tool as one method of preventing drug use among youth. One of Project Safe Neighborhoods’ principles is that Parents are the first line of defense in a child’s life. “Drugs are a precursor to crime, violence and a life in the Criminal Justice System. In fact, the majority of crime and gun violence in our communities is related to drug trafficking, sales and use,” said U.S. Attorney Murphy. “We have positively impacted more than 3,000 Genesee County youth to stay away from gangs and guns through in-school violence prevention programs and our media campaign and community outreach has also engaged thousands of adults to get involved in making their neighborhoods safer. I believe the LEAD program is one more important way we can reach the community and specifically get parents involved on the front end of potential drug use,” he said.

The LEAD program is made possible by Project Safe Neighborhoods – Eastern District of Michigan. For more information, visit the PSN website at www.psnworks.org.

WHEN: Wednesday, May 17 at 2:00pm

WHERE: Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, 1002 S. Saginaw Street – Flint, 810.257.3407