The Substance Abuse Action Council (SAAC), a division of Community Mental Health Affiliates (CMHA) is pleased to announce the award of $125,000 in Drug Free Communities (DFC) grant funds from the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). The award is part of $21 million in new DFC grants awarded to 161 agencies across the country to engage local communities to prevent and reduce alcohol and drug abuse among youth.

“In these times of scarce financial resources, we are very pleased that our Drug Free Communities grant was selected from a rigorous nationwide competition,” said CMHA President & CEO Raymond J. Gorman. “We are grateful for support of SAAC’s efforts in building community-based initiatives that emphasize substance abuse awareness and prevention.”

These funds will allow SAAC to continue prevention efforts while enhancing collaborations in the network of 14 towns and communities served in central Connecticut. Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and President Obama’s “Drug Czar,” said, “Evidence shows that communities receiving DFC funding have lower instances of youth using tobacco, alcohol and marijuana.  I commend coalitions like SAAC, who work tirelessly to prevent and reduce youth drug use across the Nation with the aid of DFC grants.”

The Drug Free Communities program is directed by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).  The DFC program provides grants of up to $625,000 over five years to community coalitions that facilitate citizen participation in local drug prevention efforts. More information about the Drug-Free Communities Program is available at: www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/dfc.