Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act
- Bill Number
- S. 1611
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-05-06: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2025-07-21T19:32:26Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act aims to expand federal support for public service announcement (PSA) campaigns focused on preventing substance use among youth. It promotes research-based, age-appropriate messaging to educate and deter young people from drug and alcohol use through various media channels.
Key Provisions
- Grant Expansion: Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to include a new category of grants for developing, implementing, or expanding PSA campaigns targeted at youth substance use prevention. Eligible activities include:
- Creating PSAs for television, radio, print, outdoor advertising, and digital platforms.
- Hosting PSA contests that encourage youth to submit their own prevention-focused content.
- Reporting Requirements: The Attorney General must issue an annual public report on grants awarded for these PSA campaigns, covering:
- Details of the grant and funded campaign.
- Research that informed the campaign's development.
- Any region- or location-specific messaging.
- How the campaign aligns with the grantee's broader substance use prevention efforts.
- An evaluation of the campaign's effectiveness, such as its impact on reducing youth drug use rates.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill modifies Section 3021(a) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (a law that provides federal grants for crime prevention and justice programs) by adding a 11th eligible use for grants. Previously, the grant program supported various anti-crime initiatives but did not explicitly include youth-focused PSA campaigns for substance use prevention. This addition integrates prevention messaging into the existing framework without altering other grant criteria.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of Justice (DOJ) and Attorney General will face increased administrative responsibilities for awarding grants and compiling annual reports, potentially requiring additional resources for oversight and evaluation.
- Citizens: Youth and families may benefit from heightened awareness and prevention efforts, leading to reduced substance use through targeted education. Communities could see more localized anti-drug messaging.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic youth prevention within the U.S.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Youth and Families: Primary beneficiaries as targets of prevention campaigns aimed at reducing substance use.
- Grant Recipients: State, local, and tribal governments, as well as nonprofit organizations eligible under the Omnibus Act, which can now apply for PSA-specific funding.
- Department of Justice: Responsible for grant administration and public reporting.
- Substance Use Prevention Advocates: Groups focused on youth health and anti-drug initiatives, who may use these campaigns to amplify their efforts.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens existing federal grant authority under the Omnibus Act without creating new mandates or funding streams; emphasizes research-based approaches to ensure evidence-driven use of public funds.
- Constitutional: No apparent conflicts with constitutional principles, as it involves standard congressional spending power for public health and safety.
- Political: Supports bipartisan anti-substance use efforts (introduced by senators from both parties), potentially enhancing public health outcomes amid ongoing concerns about youth opioid and drug crises, but may spark debates over federal involvement in local education and media campaigns.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Recent Actions
- 2025-05-06: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-05-06: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act — issued 2025-05-06 — PDF (3 pages)