Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act Grants

The Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act Grants program is administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. SAMHSA is responsible for advancing behavioral health across the nation and supporting community-based prevention initiatives that reduce substance misuse and promote mental health. This grant program operates under the statutory authority of the Drug-Free Communities Act of 1997 and is specifically designed to build upon prior federal investments in community coalitions addressing substance use issues. The primary purpose of the STOP Act Grants program is to prevent and reduce alcohol use among youth and young adults between the ages of 12 and 20. The program focuses on supporting community-level strategies that address underage drinking through education, prevention campaigns, and collaborative approaches. Funded projects are expected to strengthen local coalitions and enhance their capacity to implement evidence-based prevention strategies that are tailored to the specific needs of their communities. Funding under this opportunity is intended to support a range of prevention-related activities, including public awareness campaigns, policy development, enforcement collaboration, and youth engagement initiatives. While specific allowable costs are not detailed in the forecast notice, typical expenditures under similar SAMHSA programs include personnel, program implementation, outreach, evaluation, and administrative support necessary to achieve program goals. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement for this funding opportunity, which lowers the barrier to participation for eligible organizations. Eligibility for this program is restricted by statute to domestic public and private nonprofit entities that are currently receiving or have previously received funding under the Drug-Free Communities Act. This ensures that applicants have demonstrated experience and capacity in substance use prevention and coalition-based work. The program is national in scope, allowing eligible organizations from across the United States to apply, provided they meet the statutory eligibility criteria. The application process is expected to follow standard federal grant submission procedures, likely requiring applicants to submit proposals through Grants.gov. Although specific application components are not listed in the forecast, applicants should anticipate preparing detailed project narratives, budgets, and supporting documentation that demonstrate their capacity to implement effective prevention strategies. Evaluation criteria will likely focus on program design, organizational capacity, community impact, and alignment with federal prevention priorities. This opportunity is currently in the forecast stage, with an estimated posting date of May 29, 2026. Application deadlines, award dates, and project start dates have not yet been announced. The program anticipates making approximately 32 awards with total program funding estimated at $1,900,000. Interested applicants are encouraged to monitor the official posting for full details and prepare in advance. For additional information, applicants may contact Jerry Campbell via phone or email as listed in the notice.