Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 192 / Thursday, October 3, 2024 / Presidential Documents 80377 

Proclamation 10828 of September 30, 2024 

National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month, 2024 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

America’s young people are the future of our Nation. Each of them deserves 

the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential. This National Youth 

Substance Use Prevention Month, we recommit to providing all youth with 

the resources and support they need to lead healthy lives and achieve 

their dreams. 

Addressing the opioid and overdose epidemic is a key priority of my Unity 

Agenda. Preventing substance use before it starts is a crucial part of a 

comprehensive approach to addressing the overdose crisis. 

That is why, as President, I am taking bold action to help schools, families, 

and communities to prevent youth substance use and improve the wellbeing of our Nation’s youth. Through the Bipartisan Safer Communities 

Act, my Administration made the largest investment in youth mental health 

ever, including $1 billion of funding to train and hire new school based 

mental health professionals across the country. We are supporting substance 

use prevention training for school administrators and counselors and improving mental health and substance use screening tools so students can get 

the health services they need. We have also made it easier for schools 

to leverage Medicaid to deliver mental health and substance use care to 

millions of children and youth. And we are engaging youth as partners 

to develop and strengthen community strategies for youth to better educate 

and support their peers, working toward our shared goal of getting ahead 

of substance use before it starts. 

Over the past 3 years, we have made historic investments in strengthening 

local youth prevention and public awareness campaigns across the country. 

Through our Drug-Free Communities Support Program, we are implementing 

prevention efforts in all 50 States, significantly reducing youth substance 

use in these communities. Further, my Administration launched a social 

media campaign to educate youth on the dangers of fentanyl and the lifesaving effects of opioid overdose reversal medications. We also used this 

prevention content to prepare classroom resources for middle and high 

school students. Together, we are emboldening our Nation’s youth with 

the knowledge and tools they need to make informed and empowered decisions. 

We are also taking aggressive action to reduce the supply of illicit drugs 

before they hit our streets. Under my leadership, Federal law enforcement 

is keeping more deadly drugs out of our communities than ever before 

by stopping illicit fentanyl at ports of entry, prosecuting thousands of drug 

traffickers, sanctioning individuals and organizations involved in the global 

illicit drug trade, and engaging globally to disrupt drug trafficking organizations. 

We have made immense progress in preventing the use and misuse of 

substances and preventing youth from developing substance use disorders. 

We are mobilizing communities to take action and stay informed, providing 

historic amounts of funding to prevent substance use and overdose, and 

focusing on what works—evidence-based policies, strategies, and programs. 


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80378 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 192 / Thursday, October 3, 2024 / Presidential Documents 

Together with youth, parents, mentors, and leaders from all sectors of communities around our great Nation, we are working to ensure every young 

person is nurtured in a safe, supportive, thriving environment. But to improve 

the lives of youth impacted by substance use and honor all the young 

lives tragically lost to an overdose, we can and must do more. This month, 

we recommit to fulfilling our Nation’s duty to leave no one behind and 

extend support to those who need it. America’s youth deserve nothing 

less than our unwavering commitment to their well-being. 

If you are struggling with substance use or just need someone to talk to, 

speak to a loved one or health care provider, contact the Substance Abuse 

and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Helpline at 1–800– 

662–HELP or visit FindSupport.gov. If you or someone you love is experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, you can call or text 988, 

or visit 988lifeline.org for free, confidential crisis support. 

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 2024 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 thirtieth day 

of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of 

the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and 

forty-ninth. 

[FR Doc. 2024–23002 

Filed 10–2–24; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 3395–F4–P 


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