U.S. Congressman. Harold “Hal” Rogers (KY-05) announced that Operation UNITE’s Substance Abuse Treatment Voucher Program has received a $714,000 grant from the Department of Health and Human Service’s (HHS) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention to assist individuals seeking treatment for substance abuse.

“Treatment is one of the most effective ways to treat those bound by the chains of addiction,” said Rogers. “Operation UNITE should be commended for their three-pronged strategy -- investigation, education and treatment -- to fight the scourge of drugs in our region. It is refreshing to see our communities come together to help those who are seeking assistance. We can draw our strength from one another to keep drugs off our streets and protect our families from the perils of addiction.”

Operation UNITE’s Substance Abuse Treatment Voucher Program assists individuals and families living in Kentucky’s Fifth Congressional District that suffer from substance abuse issues. UNITE will provide a one-time limited payment for substance abuse treatment at residential facilities. As of April 30, 2009, Operation UNITE’s Treatment Voucher Program has had 3,634 applications taken since inception. Over 1,440 participants have entered a residential treatment program and 919 of those participants have completed a residential substance abuse treatment program. UNITE intends on assisting at least 120 voucher recipients enter a residential substance abuse treatment program through this funding.

As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, Rogers works to secure funding for important initiatives in the Fifth Congressional District.