This week, Michael Botticelli, Director of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), announced 697 Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program grants, totaling $86 million. The grants will provide local community coalitions funding to prevent youth substance use, including prescription drugs, heroin, marijuana, tobacco and alcohol.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that evidence-based prevention efforts are the most effective way to reduce youth substance use and to support the roughly 90 percent of American youth who do not use drugs,\u201d said Botticelli, Director of National Drug Control Policy, in a news release. \u201cBy bringing together schools, businesses, law enforcement, parent groups, and other members of the community, DFC-funded community coalitions are helping to protect youth from the devastating consequences of non-medical prescription drug use, heroin and other substance use.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is responsible for the day-to-day management of the DFC Program.<\/p>\n
\u201cCommunity coalitions continue to drive winning strategies at the local level to reduce the rate of substance misuse,\u201d said SAMHSA Acting Administrator Kana Enomoto, in a news release. \u201cSAMHSA is pleased to join the Office of National Drug Control Policy in supporting communities that are bringing citizens together to create healthy and drug free environments for our youth.\u201d<\/p>\n
CADCA Chairman and CEO Gen. Arthur T. Dean said, \u201cWe are very proud that the federal government continues to support the coalition movement by appropriating money into the DFC program. CADCA is proud to be a partner of the Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration with the primary responsibility of providing training, technical assistance, and other support needed by these coalitions to be effective in their communities.\u201d<\/p>\n