April 2020

Drug Courts

Substance abuse poses a significant threat to the well-being of the nation’s 

youth and to the communities in which they live. According to the 2018 

National Survey on Drug Use and Health,1 more than 20 million people age 12 

and older had a substance use disorder related to their use of alcohol or illicit 

drugs in the past year. 

Research presented in the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 

Prevention’s (OJJDP’s) Model Programs Guide estimates that 60 to 80 percent 

of substantiated child abuse and neglect cases involve addiction by a parent or 

guardian.

OJJDP-funded drug courts help youth and families overcome the effects 

of substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders. Since 2007, 

OJJDP has provided approximately $143 million to establish or expand juvenile 

drug treatment courts, family drug courts, and tribal juvenile healing to wellness 

courts. To enhance program effectiveness, the funds also support research and 

training and technical assistance.

Programs

Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Program

Funding under this program supports treatment and services for youth with 

substance abuse problems. The courts work to strengthen family engagement, 

address the root problems that may cause substance use and addiction, and 

empower young people to lead drug-free and crime-free lives. 

Family Drug Court Program

This program serves parents and guardians who require treatment for a 

substance abuse disorder and who are involved with the child welfare system 

as a result of child abuse or neglect. Program goals are to strengthen parenting 

skills, to reduce incidents of child abuse and neglect resulting from addiction, 

and to provide services to the children affected. 

Tribal Juvenile Healing to Wellness Courts

Through this program, OJJDP enhances the capacity of tribal courts to 

respond to the substance use challenges of court-involved youth. The courts 

employ culturally informed approaches to promote accountability, healing, and 

tribal identity in youth younger than age 21.

For More Information

Access more information about OJJDP’s drug court programs at

ojjdp.ojp.gov/programs/drug-courts.

Funding

Between fiscal years 2017 and 

2019, OJJDP awarded $50 

million to drug court programs 

nationwide. The funding allowed 

the courts to provide services for 

youth and families with substance 

abuse challenges, specifically 

those related to opioid abuse 

or co-occurring mental health 

disorders.

` Fiscal Year 2019—$19.8 million

` Fiscal Year 2018—$18.2 million

` Fiscal Year 2017—$12 million

Caren Harp, Administrator

1

 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 2019. Key Substance Use and Mental Health 

Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Rockville, MD: 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 

Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. 

From the Field

Office of Juvenile Justice and 

Delinquency Prevention

NCJ 253048 ojjdp.ojp.gov

Guam launched the island’s first 

family drug treatment court in 

November 2017 with funding 

from OJJDP. The Guam Family 

Recovery Program seeks to 

strengthen and reunite families 

by providing collaborative, 

culturally respectful, and 

family-centered treatment and 

services.

“We have witnessed a 

significant transformation in 

the parents’ behavior,” the 

grantee said. “Parents are 

holding themselves accountable 

and are committed to working 

toward the goal of sobriety and 

reunification with their children.”