Title 21, Food and DrugsRelease 119-110

§1177 Special Project Grants and Contracts

Title 21 › CHAPTER 16 — DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION, TREATMENT, AND REHABILITATION › SUBCHAPTER IV — OTHER FEDERAL PROGRAMS › § 1177

Last updated Sep 23, 2026|Official source

Summary

Authorizes the Secretary, through the National Institute on Drug Abuse, to give grants and make contracts with people and public or private nonprofit groups to fund training, education, technical help, and demonstration and evaluation projects for drug abuse prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. The work must put high priority on prevention and early intervention, especially programs that try to stop people from starting drug use. Money for treatment must not be only for opiate abuse; it must also cover non-opiate and polydrug treatment, and funds may be used for alcohol problems too. Applications in a State must be coordinated, and the Secretary cannot favor public over private groups or State over local ones. Applicants must send a copy of their proposal to the State drug abuse agency for review within 30 days (the State can waive this). Approval requires that the applicant will run or supervise the project, use proper administration and accounting, and, for treatment projects, include performance measures or a research plan. The Secretary should encourage projects for underserved groups such as racial and ethnic minorities, Native Americans (including Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders), youth, the elderly, women, people with disabilities, and families of drug users. Payments may be made in advance or by reimbursement and in installments. Projects should meet needs of people with disabilities, be community-based when possible, involve many public and non-government groups, use outreach workers and bilingual guides where many people have limited English, and use local resources like community mental health centers. Grants to States need the State’s chief executive officer to approve the application. Grants may not last more than five years. Federal share limits are 100% of costs in the first year, 80% in the second, 70% in the third, and 60% in the fourth and fifth years; for this rule, a grant or contract is not treated as made under this section for any fiscal year that ends before September 30, 1981. Congress authorized these exact amounts to be appropriated to carry out the program: $25,000,000 for the year ending June 30, 1972; $65,000,000 for the year ending June 30, 1973; $100,000,000 for the year ending June 30, 1974; $160,000,000 for each of the years ending June 30, 1975 and June 30, 1976; $40,000,000 for July 1 through September 30, 1976; and $160,000,000 for each of the years ending September 30, 1977 and September 30, 1978. For the year ending September 30, 1979, $153,000,000 was authorized for grants and contracts under paragraphs (3) and (6) of subsection (a) for drug abuse treatment programs and $24,000,000 for other programs under that subsection. For grants and contracts under paragraphs (3) and (6) of subsection (a) for treatment programs, $149,000,000 was authorized for the year ending September 30, 1980 and $155,000,000 for the year ending September 30, 1981; for other programs $20,000,000 was authorized for 1980 and $30,000,000 for 1981. Of the funds for the year ending September 30, 1980, at least 7 percent must be used for primary prevention and intervention aimed at high‑risk groups; for the next year at least 10 percent must be so used. For the year ending September 30, 1982, $15,000,000 was authorized, and at least 25 percent of that must be for primary prevention and intervention focused on high‑risk groups.

Full Legal Text

Title 21, §1177

Food and Drugs, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Scope of programs; priority
The Secretary acting through the National Institute on Drug Abuse, may make grants to and enter into contracts with individuals and public and private nonprofit entities—
(1)to provide training seminars, educational programs, and technical assistance for the development, demonstration, and evaluation of drug abuse prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation programs; and
(2)to conduct demonstration and evaluation projects, with a high priority on prevention and early intervention projects and on identifying new and more effective drug abuse prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation programs.
In the implementation of his authority under this section, the Secretary shall accord a high priority to applications for grants or contracts for primary prevention programs. For purposes of the preceding sentence, primary prevention programs include programs designed to discourage persons from beginning drug abuse. To the extent that appropriations authorized under this section are used to fund treatment services, the Secretary shall not limit such funding to treatment for opiate abuse, but shall also provide support for treatment for non-opiate drug abuse including polydrug abuse. Furthermore, nothing shall prevent the use of funds provided under this section for programs and projects aimed at the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of alcohol abuse and alcoholism as well as drug abuse.
(b)Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1972; $65,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1973; $100,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1974; $160,000,000 for each of the fiscal years ending June 30, 1975 and June 30, 1976; $40,000,000 for the period July 1, 1976, through September 30, 1976; and $160,000,000 for each of the fiscal years ending September 30, 1977, and September 30, 1978, to carry out this section. For the fiscal year ending September 30, 1979, there is authorized to be appropriated (1) $153,000,000 for grants and contracts under paragraphs (3) and (6) of subsection (a) for drug abuse treatment programs, and (2) $24,000,000 for grants and contracts under such subsection for other programs and activities. For grants and contracts under paragraphs (3) and (6) of subsection (a) for drug abuse treatment programs there is authorized to be appropriated $149,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1980, and $155,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1981; and for grants and contracts under such subsection for other programs and activities there is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1980, and $30,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1981. Of the funds appropriated under the preceding sentence for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1980, at least 7 percent of the funds shall be obligated for grants and contracts for primary prevention and intervention programs designed to discourage individuals, particularly those in high risk populations, from abusing drugs; and of the funds appropriated under the preceding sentence for the next fiscal year, at least 10 percent of the funds shall be obligated for such grants and contracts. For carrying out the purposes of this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1982. Of the funds appropriated under the preceding sentence, at least 25 per centum of the funds shall be obligated for grants and contracts for primary prevention and intervention programs designed to discourage individuals, particularly individuals in high risk populations, from abusing drugs.
(c)Coordination of applications for programs in a State; precedence restriction; project evaluation; application approval; criteria; proposed performance standards or research protocol
(1)In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall require coordination of all applications for programs in a State and shall not give precedence to public agencies over private agencies, institutions, and organizations, or to State agencies over local agencies.
(2)Each applicant within a State, upon filing its application with the Secretary for a grant or contract under this section, shall submit a copy of its application for review by the State agency (if any) responsible for the administration of drug abuse prevention activities. Such State agency shall be given not more than thirty days from the date of receipt of the application to submit to the Secretary, in writing, an evaluation of the project set forth in the application. Such evaluation shall include comments on the relationship of the project to other projects pending and approved and to any State comprehensive plan for treatment and prevention of drug abuse. The State shall furnish the applicant a copy of any such evaluation. A State if it so desires may, in writing, waive its rights under this paragraph.
(3)Approval of any application for a grant or contract under this section by the Secretary, including the earmarking of financial assistance for a program or project, may be granted only if the application substantially meets a set of criteria that—
(A)provide that the activities and services for which assistance under this section is sought will be substantially administered by or under the supervision of the applicant;
(B)provide for such methods of administration as are necessary for the proper and efficient operation of such programs or projects; and
(C)provide for such fiscal control and fund accounting procedures as may be necessary to assure proper disbursement of and accounting for Federal funds paid to the applicant.
(4)Each applicant within a State, upon filing its application with the Secretary for a grant or contract to provide treatment or rehabilitation services shall provide a proposed performance standard or standards, to measure, or research protocol to determine, the effectiveness of such treatment or rehabilitation program or project.
(d)Programs and projects aimed at underserved groups; encouragement and special consideration given to applications
The Secretary shall encourage the submission of and give special consideration to applications under this section to programs and projects aimed at underserved populations such as racial and ethnic minorities, Native Americans (including Native Hawaiians and Native American Pacific Islanders), youth, the elderly, women, handicapped individuals, and families of drug abusers.
(e)Payments; advances; reimbursement; installments
Payment under grants or contracts under this section may be made in advance or by way of reimbursement and in such installments as the Secretary may determine.
(f)Prevention and treatment services
Projects and programs for which grants and contracts are made or entered into under this section shall, in the case of prevention and treatment services, seek to (1) be responsive to special requirements of handicapped individuals in receiving such services; (2) whenever possible, be community based, insure care of good quality in general community care facilities and under health insurance plans, and be integrated with, and provide for the active participation of, a wide range of public and non­governmental agencies, organizations, institutions, and individuals; (3) where a substantial number of the individuals in the population served by the project or program are of limited English-speaking ability (A) utilize the services of outreach workers fluent in the language spoken by a predominant number of such individuals and develop a plan and make arrangements responsive to the needs of such population for providing services to the extent practicable in the language and cultural context most appropriate to such individuals, and (B) identify an individual who is fluent both in that language and English and whose responsibilities shall include providing guidance to the individuals of limited English-speaking ability and to appropriate staff members with respect to cultural sensitivities and bridging linguistic and cultural differences; and (4) where appropriate, utilize existing community resources (including community mental health centers).
(g)Authorization by chief executive officer of State required; maximum amount and duration of grants
(1)No grant may be made under this section to a State or to any entity within the government of a State unless the grant application has been duly authorized by the chief executive officer of such State.
(2)No grant or contract may be made under this section for a period in excess of five years.
(3)(A)The amount of any grant or contract under this section may not exceed 100 per centum of the cost of carrying out the grant or contract in the first fiscal year for which the grant or contract is made under this section, 80 per centum of such cost in the second fiscal year for which the grant or contract is made under this section, 70 per centum of such cost in the third fiscal year for which the grant or contract is made under this section, and 60 per centum of such cost in each of the fourth and fifth fiscal years for which the grant or contract is made under this section.
(B)For purposes of this paragraph, no grant or contract shall be considered to have been made under this section for a fiscal year ending before September 30, 1981.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1983—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 98–24 substituted “Native Americans (including Native Hawaiians and Native American Pacific Islanders)” for “native Americans”. 1981—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–35, § 970(b), substituted “The Secretary acting through the National Institute on Drug Abuse, may make grants to and enter into contracts with individuals, and public and private nonprofit entities” for “The Secretary shall” in introductory provision preceding par. (1), reduced the enumeration of authorized activities of the Secretary from six paragraphs to two paragraphs thereby eliminating provisions relating to the recruitment, training, and employment of participants in treatment programs, the establishment, conduct, and evaluation of drug abuse prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation programs, the development of methods to deal with drug abuse in particular areas, the improvement of drug maintenance techniques or programs, and the establishment, conduct, and evaluation of drug abuse prevention and treatment programs, and inserted provision that nothing shall prevent the use of funds provided under this section for programs and projects aimed at the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of alcohol abuse and alcoholism as well as drug abuse. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–35, § 970(c), inserted provisions relating to fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 1982. Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 97–35, § 970(d)(1), substituted “responsible for the administration of drug abuse prevention activities” for “designated or established under section 1176 of this title” and “any State” for “the State” and struck out reference to drug abuse under section 1176 of this title. Subsec. (c)(3)(D). Pub. L. 97–35, § 970(d)(2), struck out subpar. (D) which had provided that approval of a grant or contract could be granted only if the application provided for reasonable assurances that Federal funds made available under this section would be used to supplement and increase the level of State, local, and other non-Federal funds that would in the absence of such Federal funds be made available for the programs described in this section and would not supplant State or local funds. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 97–35, § 970(e), inserted applicability to racial and ethnic minorities, handicapped, native Americans, and families of drug abusers. Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 97–35, § 970(f), added subsec. (g). 1980—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 96–181, § 7(a)(1), substituted “development, demonstration and evaluation of drug abuse” for “development of drug abuse”. Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 96–181, § 7(a)(2), substituted “drug maintenance and detoxification techniques” for “drug maintenance techniques”. Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 96–181, § 7(a)(3), in provisions relating to evaluation of drug abuse prevention and treatment programs, inserted provision that such evaluation be with particular emphasis on replicating effective prevention and treatment programs. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–181, § 7(b), inserted authorization of appropriations for grants and contracts under pars. (3) and (6) of subsec. (a) and for other programs and activities for fiscal years ending Sept. 30, 1980, and Sept. 30, 1981, and required certain percentage of appropriated funds to be obligated for grants and contracts for primary prevention and intervention programs designed to discourage individuals from abusing drugs. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 96–181, § 7(c), inserted provisions for special consideration to applications for programs and projects for prevention and treatment of drug abuse and drug dependence by elderly. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 96–181, § 7(d), added subsec. (f). 1978—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–461, § 6(a), inserted provision requiring Secretary to act through National Institute on Drug Abuse in making special project grants. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–461, § 2(b), inserted provisions authorizing appropriations for fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 1979. 1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–237, § 10(a), inserted provisions which authorized Secretary to give a high priority to applications for grants and contracts for primary prevention programs, and set forth programs included within primary prevention programs and scope of Secretary’s funding authority. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–237, § 11, substituted “$160,000,000 for each of the fiscal years ending
June 30, 1975 and
June 30, 1976; $40,000,000 for the period
July 1, 1976, through
September 30, 1976; and $160,000,000 for each of the fiscal years ending
September 30, 1977, and
September 30, 1978,” for “and $160,000,000 for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1975,”. Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 94–237, § 10(b), added par. (4). Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 94–371 added subsec. (d) and redesignated former subsec. (d) as (e).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1976 Amendment Pub. L. 94–371, § 10(c)(2),
July 26, 1976, 90 Stat. 1041, provided that: “The amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to applications submitted for grants or contracts under section 410 of the Drug Abuse Office and Treatment Act of 1972 [this section] after
June 30, 1976.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

21 U.S.C. § 1177

Title 21, Food and Drugs

Last Updated

Sep 23, 2026

Release point: 119-110