Jefferson County Public Health has secured funding to reduce underage substance use by students in the Port Townsend School District. The more than $200,000 grant will be used to prevent and reduce the misuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, opioids and other drugs, according to a news release. “Neurological research shows underage alcohol and other drug use has a negative impact on youth brain development,” said Karen Obermeyer, health educator for Jefferson County Public Health. “Our prevention efforts should be focused on keeping our children safe, healthy, and giving them the best possible start for their adult lives.” Port Townsend qualified for Washington state’s Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative expansion grant to implement community and school-based drug prevention programs. The effort is a collaboration between the Port Townsend School District, Olympic Educational Service District 114 and Jefferson County Public Health. The Washington State Health Care Authority’s Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery funds this project and has funded CPWI in the Chimacum School District since 2013. For more information, call 360-385-9438.