Representatives Jeff Hurd (CO-03), Michelle Tran (CA-45), and Madeleine Dean (PA-04) have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at preventing youth substance use. The Youth Substance Prevention and Awareness Act would allow federal grants to be used for evidence-based public service announcement campaigns intended to educate young people about the dangers of substance abuse.
The bill proposes an expansion of the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP). This expansion would support age-appropriate drug prevention PSAs from state and local governments targeting 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.”
Rep. Tran emphasized the challenge posed by online misinformation: “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,” she said. “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.”
Rep. Dean added her perspective as a parent: “So many young people are confronted with illicit substances—early intervention can help save their lives,” she said. “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.”
Data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows that over 5 million young adults have reported having a substance use disorder; nearly 2 million adolescents between ages 12–17 reported using drugs in the past month.
The act requires reporting on PSAs funded through these grants—including details about each campaign awarded funding; research used in campaign development; any regional or geographic-specific messaging; descriptions showing how campaigns align with other prevention strategies; and evaluations measuring effectiveness at reducing youth drug use.
Senators Kelly (D-AZ), Tillis (R-NC), and Coons (D-DE) also support this bicameral legislation. Organizations endorsing it include the National Association of Attorneys General, Partnership to End Addiction, Drug Policy Alliance, Addiction Policy Forum, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), National Association for Children Impacted by Addiction (NACoA), Brent Shapiro Foundation, Alexander Neville Foundation, National Crime Prevention Council, MATFORCE, Substance Awareness Coalition Leaders of Arizona (SACLAz), and Gang Free North Carolina.
Read the full text of the legislation here.
