Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6902
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-18: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-03T08:06:33Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act aims to expand federal support for public awareness efforts to prevent substance use among young people by funding research-based public service announcement (PSA) campaigns. PSAs are short messages, like ads on TV or social media, designed to educate and deter youth from using drugs or alcohol.
Key Provisions
- Grant Program Expansion: Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to allow grants for creating, running, or growing PSA campaigns focused on youth substance use prevention. These campaigns must use age-appropriate materials based on research.
- Types of PSAs Supported: Includes announcements on television, radio, print media, outdoor displays (e.g., billboards), digital platforms (e.g., social media), and contests where youth submit their own PSA ideas.
- Reporting Requirements: The U.S. Attorney General must issue an annual public report on each grant awarded for these PSAs. The report covers:
- Details of the grant and the funded campaign.
- Research that guided the campaign's development.
- Any location-specific messaging (e.g., tailored to certain regions).
- How the campaign aligns with the grantee's broader substance use prevention efforts.
- An evaluation of the campaign's success, such as its impact on lowering youth drug use rates.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds a new category (paragraph 11) to the list of eligible uses for grants under Section 3021(a) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, which previously focused on broader crime prevention and justice programs but did not specifically include youth-targeted PSA campaigns for substance use.
- Introduces mandatory annual reporting by the Attorney General to ensure transparency and accountability, which was not required for similar grant uses before.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of Justice (via the Attorney General) will oversee grant distribution and produce annual reports, potentially increasing administrative workload but improving tracking of prevention outcomes.
- Citizens: Youth and families may benefit from increased exposure to prevention messages, potentially reducing substance use rates and related health or social issues. Communities could see more localized anti-drug efforts through funded PSAs.
- International Relations: No direct impacts mentioned, as the bill focuses on domestic youth prevention within the U.S.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Youth and Families: Primary targets of the PSAs, who may gain better access to prevention education.
- Grant Recipients: State, local, or tribal governments, nonprofits, and community organizations eligible for these grants under the existing Act, enabling them to launch or enhance PSA programs.
- Educators and Community Leaders: Involved in implementing campaigns, especially those with youth contests or school-based messaging.
- Department of Justice: Responsible for grant administration and reporting, affecting its resource allocation for prevention initiatives.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens the federal role in substance use prevention by integrating PSAs into an established grant framework, promoting evidence-based (research-driven) approaches without creating new regulatory burdens. The reporting requirement enhances oversight but could raise minor privacy concerns if evaluations involve youth data (though not specified).
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power under Article I to fund public health and safety programs; no apparent conflicts with free speech or other rights, as PSAs are voluntary educational tools.
- Political: Bipartisan introduction (by representatives from California, Colorado, and Pennsylvania) signals broad support for youth-focused prevention, potentially influencing future funding debates on drug policy amid ongoing national concerns about opioids and youth mental health.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (4)
Rep. Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-18: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-12-18: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-18: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act — issued 2025-12-18 — PDF (3 pages)