$66 Million Awarded to DFC Community Coalitions to Strengthen Primary Prevention

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) announced nearly $70 million in Fiscal Year 2026 grant awards to strengthen community-based efforts to prevent youth substance use and advance the Trump Administration’s fight against illicit drug use.

These awards include approximately $66 million through the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program and approximately $3.8 million through the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) Local Drug Crisis Program, reinforcing ONDCP’s commitment to investing directly in communities and equipping local leaders with the tools and resources to prevent substance use. 

As ONDCP’s flagship primary prevention program, the DFC Program empowers local communities to address the unique substance use challenges facing their youth and families. This year, 101 new and competing continuation coalitions will receive approximately $12.6 million, joining approximately 427 continuation grant recipients receiving $53.3 million, to advance prevention efforts in communities across the country. These investments directly support President Trump’s National Drug Control Strategy and ONDCP’s commitment to promoting a healthy and drug-free life for America’s youth.

Complementing this nationwide investment, ONDCP is awarding approximately $3.8 million in CARA Local Drug Crisis grants to 50 coalitions serving communities experiencing high rates of youth substance use. CARA grants enable communities to implement evidence-based primary prevention strategies designed in direct response to local drug threats, with a specific focus on preventing youth use of opioids, methamphetamine and the misuse of prescription drugs.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, we are creating a healthier and safer America,” said ONDCP Director Sara Carter. “Through the Drug-Free Communities Program and CARA Local Drug Crisis Program, we are investing directly in American communities across the nation and equipping parents, children, schools, law enforcement, and local leaders with the tools to prevent substance use before it starts. In this country, children should be free to pursue their dreams and reach their limitless potential, instead of being shackled to the relentless scourge of drug addiction.”

With more than 500 funded community coalitions nationwide, the DFC Program continues to demonstrate the power of locally driven, evidence-informed primary prevention to help build a Drug-Free America.

• Protecting America’s Youth and Communities | In 2025, an estimated 62 million people, 18% of the U.S. population, lived in a community served by a DFC coalition. This reach includes an estimated 2.4 million middle school–aged youth and 3.2 million high school–aged youth, young people at critical developmental stages when prevention matters most.

• Addressing Emerging Drug Threats | In addition to sustained prevention efforts addressing alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco, 75% of coalitions addressed opioids and/or methamphetamine use. Among those coalitions, the majority focused on prescription opioids and fentanyl.

• Faith-Based Protective Factors | Most coalitions reported youth having broad access to a range of faith-based services in the community (84%), one of the strongest protective factors present in DFC communities. Coalitions also perceived that youth feel connected to a faith-based community or a positive adult from the faith community (76%).

Here are the full lists of FY 2026 DFC funds and FY 2026 CARA funds.