May 23, 2025 – Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday has joined a bipartisan group of 38 attorneys general urging Congress to pass the Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act. The federal legislation aims to reduce youth drug use through evidence-based public education and community outreach.
Introduced by U.S. Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), the bill seeks to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. It would authorize targeted federal funding for public service announcements (PSAs), youth-led campaigns, and outreach initiatives designed to prevent early substance use.
he bill focuses on peer-to-peer engagement, with PSAs and initiatives created by students to reach young audiences during early exposure to harmful substances. Funded campaigns would be culturally relevant, locally adapted, and evidence-based.
The legislation proposes:
- Federal grants for PSAs and media outreach across platforms including TV, radio, social media, and streaming services.
- Youth-led PSA contests.
- Annual reporting to assess reach and effectiveness.
The coalition of attorneys general emphasized the urgent need for preventive efforts due to rising fentanyl overdoses and increased access to synthetic drugs among youth. Research indicates that early drug use significantly increases the likelihood of long-term substance use disorders.
Attorneys general from 37 other states and territories, including California, Texas, Florida, and the District of Columbia, also signed the letter supporting the bill.
By Franklin County Free Press
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