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 by data presented by CADCA that showed how community anti-drug coalitions could help change attitudes and behaviors about illegal drugs. Congressman Portman went back to his district, and with the active support of CADCA, created the Coalition for a Drug-Free Greater Cincinnati.

After working on developing the coalition in Cincinnati, which achieved significant reductions in teen drug use, Portman approached CADCA about collaborating on a new national program based on the coalition.

The national program grew steadily in terms of both appropriations (from $10 million in fiscal year [FY] 1998 to $95 million in FY 2010) and the number of grantees (from 93 original grantees to 746 current grantees, including mentoring grantees).

The Drug-Free Communities program acknowledges that federal anti-drug resources may be better invested at the community level with those who have the most power to reduce the demand for drugs—parents, teachers, business leaders, the media, the faith community, law enforcement officials, youth, and others. Federal support is contingent upon a community demonstrating local commitment and resolve to address its drug problem, before it is eligible to receive any federal funds for the program. Prior to applying, a community must (1) have 12 key community sectors working together for at least six months and (2) have baseline data, a focused mission, and targeted strategies to reduce youth drug use. Coalitions are only eligible to receive as much federal funding as they can match, dollar for dollar, with nonfederal support, up to $125,000.