Congressman Sander Levin

Anti-Drug Efforts

I am actively involved both at home and in D.C. with the prevention and treatment of substance abuse. I believe our approach to drug use must be consistent and it must focus on engaging entire communities in combating substance abuse.

I am the co-author of the federal program, The Drug Free Communities (DCF) Support Program, which is designed to reduce substance abuse among young people by supporting community anti-drug coalitions made up of youth, parents, local law enforcement, school officials, faith-based organizations, government agencies, health professionals and other community members.

I am also working to preserve the Safe and Drug Free Schools Program, which has served as the backbone of school-based substance abuse prevention and intervention efforts. The 2010 federal budget proposal recommends eliminating the program’s grants to states, which would effectively eliminate drug and violence prevention education across the country.

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• Read the Fall Edition of the Coalition Edition

Drug Free Communities

I am the co-author of the Drug Free Communities (DFC) Support Program, which is designed to reduce substance abuse among young people by supporting community anti-drug coalitions. There are now over 700 Drug Free Community anti-drug coalitions operating across the country.

Since its creation, the DFC program has received widespread, bipartisan support and has seen significant funding increases to support the work of the ever increasing amount of anti-drug coalitions. Unfortunately, funding has not kept pace with demand and, historically, only 34% of applicants have received funding. In the 111th Congress, I am again co-leading a bipartisan effort to better fund the program.

• More on Drug Free Communities
• Contact Information For Local Community Anti-Drug Coalitions

Safe and Drug Free Schools

The Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities program (SDFSC) is the backbone of the federal effort to combat drug use and violence in and around schools. It is the only federal program that provides education about substance abuse and violence to students in elementary and secondary schools. SDFSC funding is currently used by 97% of the nation’s school districts and serves more than 37 million students per year.

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(Updated November 18, 2009)