WASHINGTON – In an effort to tackle a rise in substance abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic, Congressman Troy Balderson (R-OH) and a bipartisan group of more than 30 lawmakers have introduced the Drug-Free Communities Pandemic Relief Act. The legislation would provide temporary flexibility for the Drug Free Communities (DFC) Support Program during the pandemic year by enabling Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to waive the community match requirement for grantees to receive federal dollars if the community partners are unable to raise the funds due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“As the coronavirus pandemic has devastated Ohio, we cannot forget the other ongoing public health crisis we face: the opioid epidemic,” said Balderson. “Flexibility and relief are necessary for our communities to continue combatting youth substance abuse, provide behavioral health support, and protect the wellbeing of young Ohioans.”

Data indicates a nationwide increase in substance abuse during the pandemic, resulting from increased stress, isolation, job losses, school closures, and other challenges caused by this public health emergency. In addition, communities are less equipped to combat the trend due to a strain on local resources, which have been redirected toward the pandemic. This cycle of a rise in substance abuse and decline in resources to fight it is unsustainable.

Under the Drug-Free Communities Pandemic Relief Act, community-based coalitions unable to meet DFC program match requirements due to the unforeseen, extraordinary conditions of the pandemic would temporarily not be required to fulfill match requirements to receive federal grant funding. The legislation would allow flexibility during the remainder of the pandemic year so these coalitions can refocus on combatting youth substance abuse during the ongoing opioid crisis, particularly with regard to youth prescription drug misuse.

The legislation is endorsed by the following organizations: Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), Mothers Against Prescription Drug Abuse (MAPDA), NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals, National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD), National Families in Action, and National Prevention Science Coalition to Improve Lives (NPSC).

BACKGROUND

The DFC program supports community-based coalitions in all 50 states to strengthen the infrastructure among local partners to create and sustain a reduction in local youth substance abuse. Since its creation in 1997, this program has helped decrease the prevalence of alcohol and drug misuse among middle school and high school aged youth. Ohio’s Twelfth Congressional District receives direct funding from this program for the Richland County Youth Substance Use Coalition, based in Mansfield.

Recognizing that local problems need local solutions, DFC coalitions engage multiple sectors of the community and employ a variety of strategies to address local substance use problems. DFC coalitions are made up of community leaders representing sectors that organize to meet the local prevention needs of the youth and families in their communities, including schools, parents, youth-serving organizations, businesses, religious/fraternal organizations, health care professionals, law enforcement, and local governments.