ICYMI: Reps. Hurd, Tran, Dean Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Youth Substance Use

WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, Reps. Hurd (CO-03), Tran (CA-45), and Dean (PA-04) introduced bipartisan legislation to prevent youth substance use. The Youth Substance Prevention and Awareness Act would allow federal grants to fund evidence-based public service announcement (PSA) campaigns designed to educate young people about the dangers of substance abuse.

Specifically, the legislation would expand the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP) to support age-appropriate drug prevention PSAs launched by state and local governments that reach youth in their communities.

 “Preventing substance abuse before it starts is one of the most effective ways we can protect our kids and strengthen our communities. This legislation focuses on evidence-based prevention, modern communication tools, and accountability, making sure taxpayer dollars are used to reach young people where they are and with messages that actually work,” said Rep. Hurd. “By investing in smart, research-driven public awareness campaigns, we can help give families and local communities better tools to keep kids safe and on a healthy path.”

“As online misinformation increasingly impacts young people, it is more important than ever to distribute reliable, factual information about the impacts of substance abuse. My bill would make it easier for children and teenagers to access preventative educational materials about drugs and other harmful substances that are tailored to their age, to help them make informed choices as they grow up,” said Rep. Tran. “This isn’t a partisan issue. The rapidly increasing flow of illicit drugs onto our streets, especially by malign actors like the Chinese Communist Party, is a concern for parents of young children, like me, on both sides of the political aisle. This bipartisan, common-sense legislation takes a meaningful step toward addressing substance abuse in our communities. I’m proud to have strong bipartisan support for this measure that will help keep all of our kids safe and healthy.”

“So many young people are confronted with illicit substances—early intervention can help save their lives,” said Rep. Dean. “I come to this work as a mother. My son Harry is now 13 years in active recovery from opioid addiction, a heartbreaking struggle for our family that began when he was a teenager. The Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act will help us more effectively reach our children, to educate them on the severity and dangers of substance use, and to protect them as they grow into the adults they are meant to be.”

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), over 5 million young adults reported having a substance use disorder, and nearly 2 million adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 reported using drugs in the last month. The Youth Substance Prevention and Awareness Act would use evidence-based preventative educational initiatives over television, radio, print media, and digital platforms to reach youth where they are and help curb substance use as early as possible.

This legislation requires reporting on the PSAs funded through the grant, including:

• A description of the grant awarded and the public service announcement campaign funded by the grant;
• The research used to inform and develop the public service announcement campaign funded by the grant;
• Any regional or geographic-specific messaging used as part of the public service announcement campaign;
• A description of how the public service announcement campaign funded by the grant supports the other substance use prevention initiatives or strategy of the grantee; and
• An evaluation of the success of the public service announcement campaign, such as the effectiveness of the campaign at reducing youth drug use.

The bicameral Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act is also supported by Senators Kelly (D-AZ), Tillis (R-NC), and Coons (D-DE). This legislation is endorsed by the National Association of Attorneys General, Partnership to End Addiction, Drug Policy Alliance, Addiction Policy Forum, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), the National Association for Children Impacted by Addiction (NACoA), the Brent Shapiro Foundation, the Alexander Neville Foundation, National Crime Prevention Council, MATFORCE, the Substance Awareness Coalition Leaders of Arizona (SACLAz), and Gang Free North Carolina.

Read the full text of the legislation here.

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