[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 129, 114th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9338 of September 30, 2015

National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, 2015

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Every day, millions of American families, friends, teachers, and
community organizations work to ensure children have access to the
support and resources needed to help prevent substance abuse. As we mark
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, we come together to
acknowledge the role every person can play in preventing substance abuse
and recommit to fostering a culture where all our people can live up to
their fullest potential.
Community partners in all corners of our country work to foster
positive, safe environments in our towns and cities, and my
Administration is committed to bolstering these efforts. Thanks to the
Affordable Care Act, health plans offered through the Health Insurance
Marketplace must include mental health and substance use disorder
services. My Administration has also taken action to ensure that
coverage for these services is comparable to coverage for medical and
surgical benefits. Preventing substance abuse is a fundamental element
of our National Drug Control Strategy and can only be accomplished by
supporting parents, mentors, schools, and community members as they work
to prevent substance abuse before it begins. Together, by promoting
evidence-based prevention programs, we can provide individuals with the
tools and information they need to make smart choices, avoid needless
tragedy, and lead healthy, fulfilling lives.
Alcohol and drug use can stand in the way of academic achievement,
jeopardize school safety, and limit a young person's possibilities.
Additionally, thousands of Americans die each year from prescription
drug overdose--and many can access these drugs in their own medicine
cabinets at home. We must educate our children about the harms and risks
associated with substance abuse. By talking with our sons and daughters
early and often about the dangers of drug and alcohol use, we can help
set them firmly on a path toward a brighter future.
In the United States, no child's dreams should be out of reach because
the necessary encouragement and care were not accessible. As a Nation,
as community members, and as American citizens, we have an obligation to
help cultivate a society free from substance abuse. This month, let us
resolve to model a healthy lifestyle for those around us, talk openly
with our youth about the dangers of drug and alcohol use, and reach for
a future where opportunity knows no bounds.

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NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, 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 2015 as
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month. I call upon all Americans to
engage in appropriate programs and activities to promote comprehensive
substance abuse prevention efforts within their communities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand fifteen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
fortieth.
BARACK OBAMA