---
kind: "section"
citation: "21 U.S.C. § 1531"
title: "21"
title_heading: "Food and Drugs"
number: "1531"
heading: "Establishment of drug-free communities support program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/21/1531"
units:
  - "Chapter 20 — National Drug Control Program"
  - "Subchapter II — Drug-Free Communities"
  - "Part A — Drug-Free Communities Support Program"
---

# §1531. Establishment of drug-free communities support program

- (a) **Establishment—** The [Director](/usc/21/1523.md?p=4) shall establish a [program](/usc/21/1523.md?p=8) to support [communities](/usc/21/1523.md?p=3) in the development and implementation of comprehensive, long-term plans and [programs](/usc/21/1523.md?p=8) to prevent and treat [substance use and misuse](/usc/21/1523.md?p=9) among [youth](/usc/21/1523.md?p=10).
- (b) **Program—** In carrying out the [Program](/usc/21/1523.md?p=8), the [Director](/usc/21/1523.md?p=4) shall—
  - (1) make and track grants to [grant recipients](/usc/21/1523.md?p=6);
  - (2) provide for technical assistance and training, data collection, and dissemination of information on state-of-the-art practices that the [Director](/usc/21/1523.md?p=4) determines to be effective in reducing [substance use and misuse](/usc/21/1523.md?p=9); and
  - (3) provide for the general administration of the [Program](/usc/21/1523.md?p=8).
- (c) **Administration—** Not later than 30 days after receiving recommendations from the [Advisory Commission](/usc/21/1523.md?p=2) under section 1542(a)(1)[^1] of this title, the [Director](/usc/21/1523.md?p=4) shall appoint an [Administrator](/usc/21/1523.md?p=1) to carry out the [Program](/usc/21/1523.md?p=8).
- (d) **Contracting—** The [Director](/usc/21/1523.md?p=4) may employ any necessary staff and may enter into contracts or agreements with national drug control agencies, including interagency agreements to delegate authority for the execution of grants and for such other activities necessary to carry out this subchapter.

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 100–690, title I, § 1031, as added Pub. L. 105–20, § 2(a)(2), June 27, 1997, 111 Stat. 226; amended Pub. L. 115–271, title VIII, § 8203(b)(4)(A), Oct. 24, 2018, 132 Stat. 4111; Pub. L. 116–74, § 2(c)(1)(A)(ii)(II), Nov. 27, 2019, 133 Stat. 1157.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 1542(a)(1) of this title, referred to in subsec. (c), was repealed by Pub. L. 115–271, title VIII, § 8203(b)(5), Oct. 24, 2018, 132 Stat. 4112.

### Amendments

2019—Subsecs. (a), (b)(2). Pub. L. 116–74, § 2(c)(1)(A)(ii)(II), made technical amendment to directory language of Pub. L. 115–271, § 8203(b)(4)(A). See 2018 Amendment note below.

2018—Subsecs. (a), (b)(2). Pub. L. 115–271, § 8203(b)(4)(A), as amended by Pub. L. 116–74, § 2(c)(1)(A)(ii)(II), substituted “substance use and misuse” for “substance abuse”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2019 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 116–74 effective as if included in the enactment of subtitle K of title VIII of Pub. L. 115–271, see section 2(c)(2) of Pub. L. 116–74, set out as a note under section 1522 of this title.