[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 191 (Wednesday, October 4, 2023)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 68437-68438]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-22241]




                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 191 / Wednesday, October 4, 2023 / 
Presidential Documents

[[Page 68437]]


                Proclamation 10640 of September 29, 2023

                
National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month, 
                2023

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                During National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month, 
                we rededicate ourselves to building a better future for 
                America's children. No one should have to struggle with 
                substance use alone. Every young person deserves to 
                live a full and healthy life and have every opportunity 
                to reach their highest potential.

                Last year, our Nation lost nearly 111,000 Americans to 
                fatal overdoses--1,000 of those lost to overdose were 
                children and adolescents less than 18 years old. No 
                family should have to know the pain of losing a child 
                to the opioid and overdose epidemic. Losing a child is 
                like losing a piece of your soul. We owe it to all 
                those who are struggling with substance use or who have 
                lost a loved one to overdose to finally put an end to 
                this crisis.

                That is why beating the opioid epidemic is a key pillar 
                of my Unity Agenda. It is one of the most pressing 
                issues facing our Nation that we must all tackle 
                together. My Administration has invested over $169 
                billion in total for drug control policies and 
                programs, including programs to expand evidence-based 
                prevention programs for our youth. In schools, we are 
                working to hire and train more mental health 
                counselors, social workers, and other health 
                professionals supporting students. We are providing 
                educators and school-based medical professionals with 
                resources to prevent substance use and fatal overdoses. 
                And we are making it easier for schools to bill 
                Medicaid to deliver health services, including mental 
                health and substance use care.

                Beyond the classroom, my Administration is supporting 
                Drug-Free Communities coalitions in all 50 States so 
                that local communities can acquire the tools and 
                resources they need to prevent youth substance use. But 
                prevention also means increasing awareness about the 
                dangers of illicit fentanyl, which fuels the vast 
                majority of overdoses in youth. So, my Administration 
                launched a social media campaign to educate youth on 
                the dangers of this deadly drug and the lifesaving 
                effects of opioid-reversal medications like Naloxone.

                To support Americans of all ages who need access to 
                substance use disorder treatment, my Administration has 
                announced new actions that would improve and strengthen 
                coverage for mental health and substance use and ensure 
                that more than 150 million Americans with private 
                health insurance can better access substance use 
                treatment under their insurance plan. My Administration 
                proposed a rule this summer that reinforces the 
                fundamental goal of the 2008 Mental Health Parity and 
                Addiction Equity Act, ensuring families have the same 
                access to mental health and substance use benefits as 
                they do to physical health benefits. The rule proposes 
                making it easier to get in-network mental health care 
                and eliminating administrative barriers to access that 
                keep people from getting the care they need, when they 
                need it.

                Over the past 2 years, we have seen immense progress, 
                but there is still work to do. That means we are 
                investing in what works--prevention, treatment, and 
                recovery support. My Fiscal Year 2024 budget called for 
                $3.5 billion for prevention programming for youth--an 
                increase of more than

[[Page 68438]]

                $800 million from last year--so we can keep America's 
                children safe from the harms of substance use and 
                fentanyl poisoning.

                Today's young people represent the most gifted, 
                talented, and tolerant generation in American history. 
                It is our national responsibility to protect them. 
                During National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month, 
                we recommit to providing families, educators, and 
                communities with access to lifesaving resources. 
                Together, we will ensure that young people have the 
                tools they need to thrive. Our children deserve nothing 
                less.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of 
                the United States of America, by virtue of the 
                authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws 
                of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2023 
                as National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month. Let 
                us all take action to implement practice- and evidence-
                based prevention strategies and improve the health of 
                our Nation.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twenty-ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord 
                two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of 
                the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                eighth.
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                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2023-22241
Filed 10-3-23; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F4-P