BANGOR – The Office of Substance Abuse in the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services has awarded $45,016 to Penquis CAP for a drug prevention program targeting local youth.

This funding is part of a statewide effort to enhance adult-teen relations and prevent risk factors that may lead to substance use and abuse.

The Penquis Dispute Resolution Center will collaborate with the city of Bangor’s parks and recreation department and the YWCA’s opportunity program for teens to implement the program, which will involve 30 youths and 30 adults from the Greater Bangor area.

Three groups consisting of 10 youths and 10 adults each will work independently of one another to plan, design and implement projects of their choosing.

Participants will include local youth in grades six through 12 and their parents or other significant adults. All participants will receive training in the areas of positive communication and conflict resolution. In addition, instruction will be provided to teens in planning and decision-making skills and to adults in adolescent development and modeling healthy behaviors.

City Councilor Nichi Farnham, co-chairwoman of the city’s Special Committee on Opiate Abuse, said in a prepared statement that she applauded the effort to reduce drug use in the area.

“The city of Bangor applauds the efforts of Penquis CAP to engage our youth in positive activities designed to harness their energy and ideas in productive projects,” she said.