The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program

AT-A-GLANCE

What Is The DFC Program

The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program
is the nation’s leading effort to prevent and reduce
substance use among youth by supporting community
coalitions.

A DFC coalition is an array of organizations and sectors
that collectively identify, plan, and implement strategies
to build safe, healthy, and drug-free environments for
youth. In 2023, the Office of National Drug Control
Policy (ONDCP) awarded DFC funding to 751
communities across all 50 states, Guam, and Puerto
Rico to prevent alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and
prescription drug use among youth.

DFC By The Numbers

• YOUTH
• MEDIA
• PARENTS
• BUSINESS
• SCHOOLS
• HEALTHCARE
  PROFESSIONALS
• VOLUNTEER
• ORGANIZATIONS
• YOUTH SERVING
  ORGANIZATIONS
• STATE/LOCAL
• GOVERNMENT
• RELIGIOUS
• ORGANIZATIONS
• SUBSTANCE ABUSE
  ORGANIZATIONS
• LAW
• ENFORCEMENT

Infographic showing the number of people living in a DFC-funded coalition in 2022 and the number of DFC grants awarded since 1998.

Infographic showing the number of DFC coalitions working with one or more schools in 2022.

Infographic showing the percentage of DFC coalitions that promoted prevention strategies among diverse demographic groups.

Infographic showing how many people were mobilized by a DFC coalition and the percentage of youth-led coalitions in 2022.

Infographic showing the percentage of coalitions that prioritized education about the risk of vaping.

Infographic showing the percentage of coalitions that focused on prescription opioids, fentanyl, and other synthetic drugs.

Infographic showing the number of coalitions working in rural/frontier communities, suburban communities, and urban communities.

 

1 in 5 Americans lived in a community with a DFC-funded coalition in 2022.

3,300+ DFC grants have been awarded to over2,200 communities since 1998.

35,000 individuals were mobilized by DFC coalitions.

67% of DFC coalitions hosted a youth-led coalition.

99% of coalitions reported working with at least one school.

83% of coalitions reported working with multiple schools either in a single or multiple districts.

Of the 81% of DFC coalitions about the risks of vaping: 89% addressed marijuana vaping 96% addressed tobacco/nicotine vaping.

Of the 73% of coalitions that worked to prevent use of opioids and/or methamphetamine: 98% prescription opioids. 74% fentanyl, fentanyl analogs, or other synthetic drugs.

65% of DFC coalitions promoted prevention strategies among specific youth demographic groups in 2022:

• Hispanic/Latino
• LGBTQ+
• Black/African American
• American Indian/Alaska Native
• Asian/Asian American
• Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

54% of coalitions reported working in rural and/or frontier communities

47% of coalitions reported working in suburban communities

37% of coalitions reported working in urban communities

 

Address It Today. Prevent It Tomorrow.

Preventing the initiation of and use of substances among youth is critical. Substance use at a young age is
associated with negative health outcomes such as effects on brain development, poor physical and mental
health, and the development of a substances use disorder, which can increase the risk of drug overdose.1
From 2019-2022, overdose deaths doubled among young people aged 15-19.2 While youth self-reported
substance use has declined over time, recent data from CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) show that
too many young people continue to use substances.1

Substance Use Among Youth

High school students reported using different substances in the past 30 days³

• 23% consumed alcohol.
• 19% used tobacco products, mainly driven by the popular use of electronic vapor products.
• 16% used marijuana.
  11% engaged in binge drinking.
• 6% misused prescription opioids.

Empowering Communities To Prevent Youth Substance Use

Youth substance use patterns vary among different populations and are impacted by how people live, work,
learn, and play. Coalitions address these factors, which can include:

→ Risk factors: adverse childhood experience (ACEs); lack of parental guidance to reject substance use;
family rejection of sexual orientation; lack of connectedness to school; and community norms, policies,
and practices favorable to substance use.
→ Protective factors: Parent or family support and engagement, school connectedness, and community
policies that limit the availability and accessibility of substances.

These risk and protective factors vary in communities across the United States. DFC coalitions are
empowered to select prevention strategies that will be most effective in their communities. DFC coalitions
also focus on youth most at-risk for substance use and apply their unique knowledge of their community to
implement comprehensive strategies and activities using the seven strategies for community-level change.
Coalitions plan and develop this comprehensive approach with the goal of changing the community
environment to change or influence community institutions, attitudes, and policies that shape individuals’
behaviors.

Empowering Young People To Use Their Voices

Meaningful youth engagement is a cornerstone of the
DFC Program. Building strong bonds and relationships
with adults and friends at school, at home, and in the
community provides youth with a sense of connectedness.
This feeling of connectedness can buffer adolescents
against experiencing poor mental health, and other risk
factors like substance use and experiencing violence.

Approximately two-thirds (67%) of DFC coalitions reported
hosting a youth coalition – a group of youth working
together to plan and implement activities related to the
mission of the full coalition. Most coalitions (83%) reported
the youth coalition met at least once a month and rated
involvement in planning prevention activities as high or
very high (72%).⁴

DFC’s Impact

Findings from the 2022 DFC Support Program National Cross-Site Evaluation:4

→ DFC coalitions significantly decreased the percentage of
substance use in the past 30 days among middle school
and high school students.
→ DFC coalitions successfully mobilized approximately 35,000
community members to engage in evidence-based youth
substance use prevention/reduction efforts.
→ More than two-thirds (69%) of DFC coalitions implemented
at least five of the seven strategies for community change.

DFC Coalition Story Snippets

Prevention Starts at Home in New Britain, Connecticut

When data from their 2022 Youth Voices Count survey indicated that young people were accessing alcohol
and prescription drugs in their homes, the New Britain Local Prevention Council created a marketing
campaign to raise awareness about how easily young people access substances at home. The Limit Access
– Prevention Starts with You campaign informs young people about the risks of using substances and aims
to educate adults that accessibility is a common risk factor for youth substance use. They worked with their
media partners to air commercials in both English and Spanish on Connecticut news networks such as NBC
and Telemundo for the entire month of September in recognition of National Recovery Month.

Seven Strategies for Community Level Change

• Provide information
• Enhance skills
• Provide support
• Enhance access & reduce barriers
• Change consequences
• Change the physical design
• Educate and inform about modifying or changing policies

Infographic showing the decrease of substance use among middle and high school youth over a 30-day period.

DFC coalitions successfully: Significantly decreased the prevalence of past 30-day substance use among youth (percentage change)
-17%
-21%
-36%
-26%
-34%
-23%
-44%
-28%

• Middle School Youth
• High School Youth
• Alcohol
• Marijuana
• Tobacco
• Prescription Drugs
• Reducing Stigma to Get People Talking in Navajo Nation

Reducing Stigma to Get People Talking in Navajo Nation

The Navajo Youth Builders Coalition (NYBC) in Fort Defiance, New Mexico works to overcome the barriers
of geographical isolation by conducting outreach into underserved communities. Due to the isolated nature
of many communities within the Navajo Nation, they may not be aware of current trends in drug use until it
begins to impact young people. Addressing cultural taboos within a tribal community requires sensitivity,
understanding and tactfulness. The NYBC successfully hosted an indigenous speaker series that focused on
health equity and access to prevention, treatment, and recovery. The NYBC works to bridge gaps in access
to collect feedback from these sessions and use it to develop future discussions or activities in the Navajo
Nation.

Shifting Priorities to Address Emerging Drug Threats

The Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Athens (SAPCA) works to reduce the use of alcohol and
marijuana among youth in Athens, Georgia. However, in recent years they found that the culture around
substance use has shifted in their community. Other substances have surfaced, such as prescription
drugs, nicotine and marijuana in the form of vaping, and fentanyl. SAPCA expanded their focus to address
these emerging substances and became one of the leading providers of youth prevention programs and
naloxone trainings. They work closely with the Department of Public Health (DPH) where the coalition
provides naloxone trainings and the DPH distributes the naloxone. SAPCA quickly adapted and responded
to the unique needs of their community.

Educating Alcohol Providers to Create Safer Environments

The Wilmington Coalition for a healthy community (WCHC) in the state of Illinois identified the importance
of educating alcohol providers about the potential risks of marketing alco-pops, an appealing beverage
combining popular soft-drinks with malt liquor. WCHC partnered with the Illinois Liquor Control
Commission to implement Beverage Alcohol Sellers and Servers Education and Training (BASSET) classes
to educate representatives from local businesses to operate safely, legally, and responsibly. During the class,
participants are encouraged to inform consumers of alcohol content in their products; trained to administer
life-saving naloxone to reverse opioid overdoses; and get naloxone for their establishments.

References

1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Surgeon General, Facing Addiction in
America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health. Washington, DC: HHS, November 2016.

2. Tanz LJ, Dinwiddie AT, Mattson CL, O’Donnell J, Davis NL. Drug overdose deaths among persons aged 10–19
years, United States, July 2019–December 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71:1576–82. Doi: 10.15585/
mmwr.mm7150a2

3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. http://www.cdc.gov/yrbs.
Accessed February 13, 2024.

4. Drug-Free Communities Support Program National Cross-Site
Evaluation: End-of-Year 2022 Report. Washington, DC: Office of National
Drug Control Policy. https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/drug-free-
communities/pdf/DFC-National-Evaluation-EoY-Report.pdf. Accessed
February 13, 2024.

Graphic: CDC Logo