Drug-Free Communities Act

The Drug-Free Communities Act of 1997 established the “Drug-Free Communities Support” program, which directly funds community grantees to use a multisectoral strategy to reduce substance abuse. It was actively promoted by Congressmen Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sander Levin (D-MI) and Senators Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Joe Biden (D-DE).

[Page 251]In response to a death of a 16-year-old boy in his district, Congressman Rob Portman was urged by his constituents to create national legislation that would assist local communities in developing an anti-drug strategy. Portman attended a briefing given by the House of Representatives’ “Speaker's Drug Task Force,” led by Dennis Hastert, on anti-drug efforts. Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA)—an outgrowth of the 1991 Presidential Drug Advisory Group—presented at this briefing. Congressman Portman was particularly struck ...