LEWISTON – Healthy Androscoggin has received nearly $100,000 from the federal government to reduce drug and alcohol abuse among children and teenagers.

The grant, which is renewable for five years, will help pay overtime for police officers who work during periods when youths are most likely to use drugs and alcohol, such as prom night. It will also pay for more police training, and for enforcement to ensure that businesses sell alcohol only to people at least 21 years old..

“A lot of officers don’t really know what the laws are surrounding liquor enforcement,” said Wendy Tardif, who helped write the grant and will oversee it for Healthy Androscoggin.

The agency will also use the money to establish an education program for adults who provide alcohol to underage drinkers and for teenagers who try to buy liquor.

First-time offenders can have their court summonses erased when they attend a six-hour program on drug and alcohol abuse.

Second-time offenders must attend an 18-hour program. Healthy Androscoggin will track the results to see whether such a program is more effective than current court penalties.

Healthy Androscoggin is a community coalition dedicated to improving the health of area residents. It is in Lewiston.