Bipartisan Coalition Urges Congress to Pass Youth Substance Use Prevention Act

Strategic Insights -

California Attorney General Rob Bonta joined a coalition of 39 attorneys general in urging Congressional leaders to pass the Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act, a bipartisan bill that would provide federal grant funding for public service announcement (PSA) campaigns aimed at reducing youth substance use. The bill would also support youth-led PSA contests, which have been shown to be effective in promoting peer-to-peer communication. The attorneys general emphasize the importance of prevention, particularly among youth, in addressing the public health and public safety crisis of substance use and addiction.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act aims to reduce youth substance use by providing federal grant funding for public service announcement (PSA) campaigns.
  • The bill supports youth-led PSA contests, which have been shown to be effective in promoting peer-to-peer communication.
  • The attorneys general emphasize the importance of prevention, particularly among youth, in addressing the public health and public safety crisis of substance use and addiction.
  • The coalition of 39 attorneys general includes leaders from California, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York, South Dakota, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, American Samoa, the District of Columbia, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  • The bill requires annual reports on the content, reach, and outcomes of the funded campaigns to ensure transparency, accountability, and effectiveness.

Statistics:

  • 39 attorneys general joined the bipartisan coalition in urging Congress to pass the Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act.
  • The coalition includes leaders from 36 states and 4 territories, including Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming, which have faced significant substance use epidemics.
  • 1 in 5 high school students in the US uses e-cigarettes, making it a critical target for prevention efforts.
  • 75% of individuals who develop substance use disorders start using substances before age 18.

Sources:

  • US State of California Department of Justice
  • MIL-OSI USA News (http://milnz.co.nz/mil-osi-aggregation/) - Copyright 2025 Multimedia Investments Ltd, distributed by Contify.com