The opioid epidemic has gripped the city for years, and now the state is hoping local communities can play a part in a new initiative to combat drug abuse.

One million dollars in funding has been put toward youth clubhouses in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. 

The clubhouses will be safe havens for recovery and peer support to help struggling New Yorkers shy away from substance abuse. Some recovery centers are looking to add staff to help youth deal with the emotional aspect of drug and alcohol abuse.

Officials say the clubhouses are not clinical treatment programs, but they are expected to be the first line of defense in the state's war on drugs.