Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed an initiative this November that gave nine Illinois communities $2.5 million to help decrease club drug use.

The Ben Gordon Center, 12 Health Services Drive, received $55,000 of the grant to help educate and prevent club drug use.

Most of the communities that received money were university towns, said Kris Povlsen, director of prevention.

The center held an event Tuesday to explain the grant and program to community members.

The program mostly will consist of educating the community about the dangers of drug use. The center already hired someone to start the project and received “kick-off money,” Povlsen said.

Povlsen said area police also will participate in the program.

DeKalb receives a grant because it is the home to the second-largest university in the state and because of the city’s narcotics task force.

Povlsen said they also plan to work with the university and local liquor establishments to spread awareness.

He also said Blajojevich signed the bill to help prevent any future problems that club drug use can cause.

“The danger of club drugs is not a widespread epidemic,” Povlsen said.

The effort mainly will target the use of methamphetamines and ecstasy.

Methamphetamines can be produced with common household items with ingredients such as anhydrous ammonia, ephedrine, which is found in cold and sinus medicine, and lithium.

Ecstasy is the most commonly used club drug in Chicago and is popular in raves and dance clubs, according to a press release from the governor’s office.

“The effects of the drugs can be devastating,” Povlsen said.

The program will concentrate on helping 18- to 24-year-olds.