```

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 192 (Thursday, October 3, 2024)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 80377-80378]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-23002]



                        Presidential Documents 



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

[[Page 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 well-being 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 life-saving 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.

[[Page 80378]]

                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.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2024-23002
Filed 10-2-24; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F4-P
```