---
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"
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](/usc/21/321.md?p=a-1)-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](/usc/21/321.md?p=g-1) 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.