Obama Administration’s FY 2011 Drug Control Budget Proposal Mixed Bag for Prevention

On Monday, the Obama Administration released its Fiscal Year 2011 National Drug Control Budget proposal. The budget proposes an overall increase for drug-related programs, and outlines the development of a new prevention program. However, it proposes a $9 million cut from last year's funding for the Drug Free Communities (DFC) program.

“CADCA is very pleased that the proposed budget includes an exciting new focus on prevention, through programs such as the Prevention Prepared Communities program, which would help communities develop effective mental health and substance abuse prevention efforts. We look forward to hopefully working with the Administration to help craft how that new program will work,” said CADCA Chairman and CEO Gen. Arthur Dean.

Another aspect of the budget that CADCA applauds is the proposed $1 million increase to the enhancement grants for the STOP Underage Drinking Act program.

However, Gen Dean noted that the cut to the DFC program is something we cannot ignore.

"At a time when youth attitudes about drug use have softened, it was disappointing to see a proposed $9 million cut from last year’s funding level for the Drug Free Communities (DFC) program, a program specifically designed to prevent drug use that has been extremely effective. Communities with DFC grantees have not only delayed the onset of youth drug and alcohol use, they have reduced youth drug use, tobacco use and underage drinking to levels lower than national averages,” he said.

The DFC program provides funding to more than 700 community coalitions located throughout the country and U.S. territories. DFC coalitions assess their local community’s substance abuse problem, use that data to develop comprehensive community-wide prevention strategies and track their progress over time.

“Therefore, while the renewed focus on prevention is a welcome development, which we wholeheartedly support, we will continue to ensure that the solid foundation of the Drug Free Communities program, which reduces drug use and its consequences in hundreds of communities, is enhanced as well,” Gen. Dean added.