[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 5, 2021)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 55461-55462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-21906]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 190 / Tuesday, October 5, 2021 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 55461]]


                Proclamation 10273 of September 30, 2021

                
National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month, 
                2021

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Far too many families across our Nation have been 
                impacted by addiction and the overdose epidemic. In 
                2020, more than 93,000 people died from an overdose--
                93,000 families forced to bury a piece of their souls. 
                The impact of this crisis echoes in communities across 
                the Nation, in the empty chairs in classrooms and 
                around kitchen tables. During National Youth Substance 
                Use Prevention Month, we reaffirm our commitment to 
                helping America's youth overcome this epidemic and lead 
                healthy, fulfilling lives.

                The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the need to 
                provide more resources to address substance use 
                disorder. Substance use disorder touches families in 
                every community, and it is essential that we invest in 
                a broad range of services, including prevention, harm 
                reduction, treatment, and recovery support services for 
                mental health and substance use.

                My Administration has been working to expand evidence-
                based prevention programs along with access to care and 
                recovery support services. We are committed to 
                preventing substance use among our Nation's youth--
                including alcohol, tobacco products, illicit drugs, and 
                misused prescription medications--by bringing 
                communities together to find local solutions. Through 
                the White House's Office of National Drug Control 
                Policy, the Drug-Free Communities Support Program helps 
                equip community coalitions to reduce youth substance 
                use at the local level. We must continue to encourage 
                parents, caregivers, educators, and other members of 
                the community to play an active role in promoting 
                evidence-based prevention efforts that encourage 
                healthy lifestyles, promote alternatives to substance 
                use, and educate young people about the harms 
                associated with substance use. We know that delaying 
                substance use until after adolescence, when the brain 
                has fully developed, decreases the likelihood of an 
                individual developing a substance use disorder. We also 
                know that smart investments in effective school-based 
                prevention programs save lives and save our economy 
                money in the form of averted medical costs and improved 
                productivity.

                My Administration is also committed to advancing racial 
                equity in our approach to drug policy--implementing 
                fairer, more effective, and more culturally resonant 
                policies to prevent, address, and treat substance use 
                disorder. That is why we are supporting the development 
                of tailored tools that strengthen prevention efforts in 
                diverse communities. These include racial equity 
                trainings, resources on inclusion and diversity, and 
                racial equity decision-making frameworks. Our youth-
                focused efforts must also account for the fact that 
                poverty, homelessness, trauma, and other adverse 
                childhood experiences affect drug use and the overall 
                health of our Nation's youth--especially with respect 
                to people of color, who are disproportionately impacted 
                by these factors. By advancing equity in every part of 
                our society--including our education, health care, 
                criminal justice, and housing systems--we can build a 
                future where all Americans can lead healthy and 
                fulfilling lives.

                This October, we honor all those who champion evidence-
                based youth substance use prevention and recommit 
                ourselves to ensuring that all Americans have the 
                skills, knowledge, and resources to live full and 
                healthy lives.

[[Page 55462]]

                Substance use disorder is a disease, and I will do 
                everything within my power to expand access to 
                evidence-based prevention, treatment, harm reduction, 
                and recovery support services as well as reduce the 
                supply of illicit drugs to keep more Americans safe.

                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 2021 
                as National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month. I 
                call on communities, parents, caregivers, educators, 
                employers, healthcare professionals, law enforcement 
                officials, faith and community leaders, and all 
                Americans to take action to promote evidence-based 
                prevention 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-one, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                sixth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2021-21906
Filed 10-4-21; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3395-F2-P