Representatives Tran, Hurd, Dean Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Youth Substance Use
Washington, DC – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Derek Tran (D-CA-45), alongside Representatives Jeff Hurd (R-CO-03) and Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), introduced bipartisan legislation to prevent youth substance use. The Youth Substance Prevention and Awareness Act would allow federal grants to fund evidence-based public service announcement (PSA) campaigns designed to educate young people about the dangers of substance abuse.
Specifically, the legislation would expand the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP) to support age-appropriate drug prevention PSAs launched by state and local governments that reach youth in their communities.
Read the full text of the legislation HERE.
“As online misinformation increasingly impacts young people, it is more important than ever to distribute reliable, factual information about the impacts of substance abuse. My bill would make it easier for children and teenagers to access preventative educational materials about drugs and other harmful substances that are tailored to their age, to help them make informed choices as they grow up,” said Representative Tran. “This isn’t a partisan issue. The rapidly increasing flow of illicit drugs onto our streets, especially by malign actors like the Chinese Communist Party, is a concern for parents of young children, like me, on both sides of the political aisle. This bipartisan, common-sense legislation takes a meaningful step toward addressing substance abuse in our communities. I’m proud to have strong bipartisan support for this measure that will help keep all of our kids safe and healthy.”
“Preventing substance abuse before it starts is one of the most effective ways we can protect our kids and strengthen our communities. This legislation focuses on evidence based prevention, modern communication tools, and accountability, making sure taxpayer dollars are used to reach young people where they are and with messages that actually work,” said Representative Hurd. “By investing in smart, research driven public awareness campaigns, we can help give families and local communities better tools to keep kids safe and on a healthy path.”
“So many young people are confronted with illicit substances — early intervention can help save their lives,” said Representative Dean. “I come to this work as a mother. My son Harry is now 13 years in active recovery from opioid addiction, a heartbreaking struggle for our family that began when he was a teenager. The Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act will help us more effectively reach our children, to educate them on the severity and dangers of substance use, and to protect them as they grow into the adults they are meant to be.”
“We must do everything in our power to reduce youth substance use,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. “I’ve previously called on Congress to pass the Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act because it can help us save lives, and I’m proud to reiterate my support for this important legislation.”
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), over 5 million young adults reported having a substance use disorder, and nearly 2 million adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 reported using drugs in the last month. The Youth Substance Prevention and Awareness Act would use evidence-based preventative educational initiatives over television, radio, print media, and digital platforms to reach youth where they are and help curb substance use as early as possible.
This legislation requires reporting on the PSAs funded through the grant, including:
A description of the grant awarded and the public service announcement campaign funded by the grant;
The research used to inform and develop the public service announcement campaign funded by the grant;
Any regional or geographic-specific messaging used as part of the public service announcement campaign;
A description of how the public service announcement campaign funded by the grant supports the other substance use prevention initiatives or strategy of the grantee; and
An evaluation of the success of the public service announcement campaign, such as the effectiveness of the campaign at reducing youth drug use.
The bicameral Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act is also supported by Senators Kelly (D-AZ), Tillis (R-NC), and Coons (D-DE). This legislation is endorsed by the National Association of Attorneys General, Partnership to End Addiction, Drug Policy Alliance, Addiction Policy Forum, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), the National Association for Children Impacted by Addiction (NACoA), the Brent Shapiro Foundation, the Alexander Neville Foundation, National Crime Prevention Council, MATFORCE, the Substance Awareness Coalition Leaders of Arizona (SACLAz), and Gang Free North Carolina.
Representative Tran is dedicated to strengthening substance use treatment programs and keeping harmful substances out of our communities. He voted in favor of H.R. 2483, the bipartisan SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025, which helps provide federal support for substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery programs. Tran is also an original cosponsor of H.R. 2964, the Fight Fentanyl Act, and voted to pass the following bills through the House:
H.R. 747, the Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act, which imposes sanctions on Chinese producers of synthetic opioids to hold Chinese officials accountable for the spread of fentanyl in the U.S.; and
H.R. 27, the HALT Fentanyl Act, which permanently designates fentanyl-related substances as having a high potential for abuse and subjects such substances to regulatory, administrative, civil, and criminal penalties under the Controlled Substances Act.
Representative Tran also co-led a letter with Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Maggie Godlander (NH-02) on a letter urging House Leadership to fully fund the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, which combats drug trafficking in high-risk areas like Los Angeles.
"The Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions is proud to support the Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act, a vital piece of legislation that will help rebuild our nation’s drug prevention infrastructure. In an age where young people are buying drugs and seeing drug promotions on social media, public service announcements aimed at preventing substance use before it starts is critical. We commend Representatives Tran, Hurd, and Dean for supporting evidence-based drug prevention messaging that will save young lives,” said Dr. Kevin Sabet, President & CEO, Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS).
“When NACoA was founded in 1983, schools had counselors and student assistance programs equipped to support children impacted by the disease of addiction — that is no longer the norm. Today, 1 in 5 children in the U.S. live in a household where a parent has a substance use disorder (American Academy of Pediatrics). The National Association for Children Impacted by Addiction (NACoA) supports this vital legislation, because locally driven, peer-centered education can break the intergenerational cycle of this chronic, progressive and fatal disease. Every dollar invested in prevention can save up to $18 in future costs (SAMSHA) — and it’s always easier to help a child than to heal a broken adult,” said Denise Bertin-Epp RN, BScN, MSA, President & CEO, NACoA.
“The Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act is a positive step towards stopping youth drug and alcohol use before it starts. Nine of 10 individuals who develop a drug addiction began using drugs as teenagers. Our nation needs to make the protection of our children and their developing brains a top priority. The Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act will provide youth with the information necessary to help them make healthy choices. This legislation can save lives.” said Merilee Fowler, Executive Director, MATFORCE, Community Counts.
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Congressman Derek Tran represents California’s 45th Congressional District. Serving his first term in Congress, Congressman Tran is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and House Small Business Committee, where he is Ranking Member of the Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations Subcommittee. Congressman Tran is the son of Vietnamese refugees, a Veteran, and fought for consumers as an attorney before entering Congress.