    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 133, 116th Congress, 1st Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Proclamation 9940 of September 30, 2019

    National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, 2019

    By the President of the United States of America

    A Proclamation

    Across our country, far too many families and communities have felt the
    devastation wrought by substance abuse. As we observe National Substance
    Abuse Prevention Month, we remember all who have been lost to this
    affliction and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring the health and safety
    of our fellow Americans. Together, we will overcome this tragic crisis
    gripping our Nation and guarantee that future generations know the
    blessings of a drug-free life.
    One of the most pressing challenges we are facing is how to overcome the
    opioid crisis in our Nation. From 1999 to 2017, our national family lost
    more than 399,000 loved ones to opioid overdoses. I am heartened to
    share that recent data shows a projected decrease of 4 percent in
    overdose deaths in the United States from 2017 to 2018, and many of our
    hardest-hit States and counties may see even more significant declines.
    While we have made progress in our fight, the illicit opioids, heroin,
    fentanyl, and methamphetamine flooding our communities continue to fuel
    addiction and destroy the lives of countless Americans.
    My Administration is unwavering in our mission to reverse the negative
    consequences of drug trafficking and abuse, save American lives, and set
    our Nation on a path to becoming stronger, healthier, and drug-free. In
    January, we released the National Drug Control Strategy, which focused
    largely on prevention. The Strategy details a multifaceted approach that
    will reduce abuse by educating the public, increasing the availability
    of treatment programs, and halting the influx of these poisons into our
    communities. As President, I will never waver from my sacred duty to
    defend our Nation and will continue fighting to protect our citizens
    from the scourge of addiction.
    To better enable all communities to overcome the grip of addiction, we
    are allocating critical resources to fight this epidemic on the front
    lines. Just last month, my Administration distributed nearly $2 billion
    in funding to State and local partners across America to assist in their
    response to the crisis. We have established grants to help schools
    implement more effective prevention programs and invested more than ever
    before in our 731 Drug-Free Community coalitions across all 50 States,
    bringing together partners to help prevent youth drug abuse.
    Additionally, my Administration's Fiscal Year 2020 National Drug Control
    Budget requests a record $34.6 billion for counter-drug efforts, a $1.3
    billion increase from the previous year. These resources enable

    [[Page 3459]]

    States, localities, and tribal communities to provide innovative and
    important services to prevent and combat substance abuse.
    This month, we renew our resolve to prevent the further loss of life and
    prosperity caused by these problems and to finally eliminate the blight
    of addiction from America. Together, we will guarantee our resilient
    country emerges from this crisis into a future free from substance
    abuse.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, 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 2019 as
    National Substance Abuse Prevention Month. Through our united efforts to
    prevent the damaging effects of substance abuse, we will ensure a
    happier, healthier, and more prosperous future. I call on parents,
    educators, mentors, employers, healthcare professionals, law enforcement
    officials, faith and community leaders, and all Americans to join me in
    the fight to finally resolve this crisis.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of
    September, in the year of our Lord two thousand nineteen, and of the
    Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
    fourth.
    DONALD J. TRUMP