The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has awarded 79 grants of approximately $50,000 each under the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking (STOP) Act.

The grants are aimed at preventing underage alcohol use. A total of nearly $16 million was awarded.

"Using the recent Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking as a guide, SAMHSA will encourage existing local community coalitions to develop, assess, and implement effective strategies to prevent and reduce underage drinking," said SAMHSA acting administrator Eric Broderick, D.D.S. "These strategies may include changing local attitudes and norms, and reevaluating existing laws and policies."

Grantees include such groups as the Underage Drinking Task Force Project Center for Prevention and Counseling in Newton, N.J., the Springfield STOP Act Project of the New North Citizens Council, Inc., in Springfield, Mass., and the Valley Community Coalition Initiative Helping Service for Northeast Iowa Inc. For a full list of grantees, see the announcement at the link above.