We are all concerned about substance abuse issues facing our youth and can work for drug-free neighborhoods and promote drug prevention activities. Many towns and cities have community anti-drug coalitions that tackle both drug and alcohol issues.
Coalitions are typically made up people who represent different sectors of the community - business, law enforcement, schools, local government, health, media, parents, youth, and the faith community, all working together to develop a comprehensive community-wide approach to substance abuse issues. Many communities realize that local drug problems require local solutions. For more information on how to be involved in a coalition or to organize a coalition, visit the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) website. CADCA is a national organization that works with over 5000 community coalitions in all 50 states and several countries.
Drug-Free Communities Program-A Federal grant program
The Drug Free Communities (DFC) Program is the only Federal drug prevention program that provides funding directly to local communities to prevent and reduce substance abuse among youth. A main objective of the program is to establish and strengthen collaboration among communities, public and private non-profit agencies; as well as federal, state, local, and tribal governments to support the efforts of community coalitions working to prevent and reduce substance use among youth. Since 1998, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has awarded thousands of DFC grants to local communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, Palau, American Samoa, the US Virgin Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia.