New Bill Funds School-Community Partnerships to Fight Drug Use: $7 Million Annually for Prevention Programs

The "Keeping Drugs Out of Schools Act of 2025" is all about teaming up schools with local groups to tackle drug use among students head-on. Instead of just talking about the problem, this bill puts money where it matters: funding for solid, proven drug prevention programs.

Teaming Up Against Drugs

This bill sets up a grant program, run through the Office of National Drug Control Policy, specifically designed to get effective drug prevention programs into schools. It's not just about throwing money around; it's about creating partnerships. Think of it like this: your local school can now team up with that community organization that's already doing great work on drug prevention, and they can get up to $75,000 a year to make even more of a difference. The bill defines "effective drug prevention programs," so we know the resources will be spent on strategies that have been shown to work. (SEC. 2)

Cash for Collaboration, Not Bureaucracy

Here's how it works. A "Drug-Free Communities funded coalition" (basically, a group already focused on fighting drug use) can partner with a "local school." Together, they come up with a plan for an "effective drug prevention program" tailored to that school's needs. They apply for the grant, and if they get it, they can keep renewing it for up to three more years. That means sustained support, not just a one-time thing. And to make sure the money goes to the right places, the bill limits administrative costs to 8% of the total funding. (SEC. 2)

For example, imagine a high school in a town where opioid misuse is a growing concern. The school could partner with a local coalition that specializes in opioid prevention. They could use the grant to bring in speakers, run workshops for students and parents, and even train teachers on how to spot early warning signs. Or, a middle school could use the funds to start a peer mentoring program, where older students help younger ones make healthy choices.

Real-World Rollout

This isn't some vague promise. The bill authorizes $7,000,000 each year from 2026 through 2031. That's a serious commitment to getting ahead of the drug problem before it takes hold of young lives. The bill also makes it clear that these grants are meant to add to existing drug prevention efforts, not replace them. It's about boosting what's already being done, not shuffling money around. (SEC. 2)

One potential challenge? Making sure the "eligible entities" – those community coalitions – actually have a solid track record. The bill is clear that the programs need to be "effective," but it will be crucial to have strong oversight to ensure the money is going where it can do the most good and not just fund feel-good programs that don't actually reduce drug use. The application process requires a detailed plan, which is a good start, and the grants are evaluated using criteria from the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. (SEC. 2)