---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 290bb–7a"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "290bb–7a"
heading: "Youth prevention and recovery"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/290bb-7a"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter III–A — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration"
  - "Part B — Centers and Programs"
  - "Subpart 1 — center for substance abuse treatment"
---

# §290bb–7a. Youth prevention and recovery

- (a) **Omitted—**
- (b) **Resource center—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) of Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) (referred to in this section as the “[Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c)”, except as otherwise provided), in consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) of Education and other heads of [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), including the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) for Mental Health and Substance Use and the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) of the Health Resources and [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) Administration, as appropriate, shall establish a resource center to provide technical support to recipients of grants under [subsection (c)](#c).
- (c) **Youth prevention and recovery initiative—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), in consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) of Education, shall administer a [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to provide support for communities to support the prevention of, [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) of, and recovery from, substance use disorders for children, [adolescents](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-9), and young adults.
  - (2) **Definitions—** In this subsection:
    - (A) **Eligible entity—** The term “eligible entity” means—
      - (i) a [local educational agency](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=3), or a [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) of [local educational agencies](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=3), that is seeking to establish or expand substance use prevention or recovery support [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) at one or more secondary [schools](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6);
      - (ii) a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) educational [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1);
      - (iii) an [institution of higher education](/usc/42/11851.md?p=7) (or consortia of such institutions), which may include a recovery [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) at an [institution of higher education](/usc/42/11851.md?p=7);
      - (iv) a local board or one-stop operator;
      - (v) a [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) organization with appropriate expertise in providing [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) or [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) for children, [adolescents](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-9), or young adults, excluding a [school](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6);
      - (vi) a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), political subdivision of a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), Indian Tribe, or Tribal organization; or
      - (vii) a high [school](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6) or dormitory serving high [school](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6) students that receives funding from the Bureau of Indian Education.
    - (B) **Foster care—** The term “foster care” has the meaning given such term in section 1355.20(a) of title 45, Code of Federal [Regulations](/usc/42/201.md?p=d) (or any successor [regulations](/usc/42/201.md?p=d)).
    - (C) **High school—** The term “high [school](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6)” has the meaning given such term in [section 7801 of title 20](/usc/20/7801.md).
    - (D) **Homeless youth—** The term “homeless youth” has the meaning given the term “homeless children or youths” in [section 11434a of this title](/usc/42/11434a.md).
    - (E) **Indian Tribe; Tribal organization—** The terms “Indian Tribe” and “Tribal organization” have the meanings given such terms in [section 5304 of title 25](/usc/25/5304.md).
    - (F) **Institution of higher education—** The term “[institution of higher education](/usc/42/11851.md?p=7)” has the meaning given such term in [section 1001 of title 20](/usc/20/1001.md) and includes a “postsecondary vocational institution” as defined in [section 1002(c)](/usc/42/1002.md) of such title.
    - (G) **Local educational agency—** The term “[local educational agency](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=3)” has the meaning given such term in [section 7801 of title 20](/usc/20/7801.md).
    - (H) **Local board; one-stop operator—** The terms “local board” and “one-stop operator” have the meanings given such terms in [section 3102 of title 29](/usc/29/3102.md).
    - (I) **Out-of-school youth—** The term “out-of-[school](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6) youth” has the meaning given such term in [section 3164(a)(1)(B) of title 29](/usc/29/3164.md?p=a-1-B).
    - (J) **Recovery program—** The term “recovery [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4)” means a [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4)—
      - (i) to help children, [adolescents](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-9), or young adults who are recovering from substance use disorders to initiate, stabilize, and maintain healthy and productive lives in the community; and
      - (ii) that includes peer-to-peer support delivered by individuals with lived experience in recovery, and communal activities to build recovery skills and supportive social networks.
    - (K) **Secondary school—** The term “secondary [school](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6)” has the meaning given such term in [section 7801 of title 20](/usc/20/7801.md).
    - (L) **State educational agency—** The term “[State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) educational [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1)” has the meaning given such term in [section 7801 of title 20](/usc/20/7801.md).
  - (3) **Best practices—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), in consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) of Education, shall—
    - (A) identify or facilitate the development of evidence-based best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) for prevention of substance misuse by children, [adolescents](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-9), and young adults, including for specific populations at increased risk for substance misuse such as youth in foster care, homeless youth, out-of-[school](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6) youth, and youth who are at risk of or have experienced trafficking that address—
      - (i) primary prevention, which may include strategies to increase education and awareness of the potency and dangers of synthetic opioids (including [drugs](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) contaminated with fentanyl) and, as appropriate, other emerging [drug](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) use or misuse issues;
      - (ii) appropriate recovery support [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a);
      - (iii) appropriate use of medication-assisted [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) for such individuals, if applicable, and ways of overcoming barriers to the use of medication-assisted [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) in such population; and
      - (iv) efficient and effective communication, which may include the use of social media, to maximize outreach efforts;
    - (B) disseminate such best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) to [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) educational [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), [local educational agencies](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=3), [schools](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6) and dormitories funded by the Bureau of Indian Education, institutions of higher education, recovery [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) at institutions of higher education, local boards, one-stop operators, family and youth homeless [providers](/usc/42/299b–21.md?p=8), and [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) organizations, as appropriate;
    - (C) conduct a rigorous evaluation of each grant funded under this subsection, particularly its impact on the indicators described in [paragraph (7)(B)](#c-7-B); and
    - (D) provide technical assistance for grantees under this subsection.
  - (4) **Grants authorized—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), in consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) of Education, shall award 3-year grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable such entities, in coordination with Indian Tribes, if applicable, and [State agencies](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=12) responsible for carrying out substance use disorder prevention and [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), to carry out evidence-based [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) for—
    - (A) prevention of substance misuse by children, [adolescents](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-9), and young adults, which may include primary prevention and strategies to increase education and awareness of the potency and dangers of synthetic opioids (including [drugs](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) contaminated with fentanyl) and, as appropriate, emerging [drug](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) use or misuse issues;
    - (B) recovery support [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) for children, [adolescents](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-9), and young adults, which may include counseling, job training, linkages to community-based [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a), family support groups, peer-to-peer support, and recovery coaching; or
    - (C) [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) or referrals for [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) of substance use disorders, which may include the use of medication-assisted [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11), as appropriate.
  - (5) **Special consideration—** In awarding grants under this subsection, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall give special consideration to the unique needs of Tribal, urban, suburban, and rural populations.
  - (6) **Application—** To be eligible for a grant under this subsection, an entity shall submit to the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may require. Such application shall include—
    - (A) a description of—
      - (i) the impact of substance use disorders in the population that will be served by the grant [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4);
      - (ii) how the eligible entity has solicited input from relevant stakeholders, which may include faculty, teachers, staff, families, students, and experts in substance use disorder prevention, [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11), and recovery in developing such application;
      - (iii) the goals of the proposed [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2), including the intended outcomes;
      - (iv) how the eligible entity plans to use grant funds for evidence-based activities, in accordance with this subsection to prevent, provide recovery support for, or treat substance use disorders amongst such individuals, or a combination of such activities;
      - (v) how the eligible entity will collaborate with relevant partners, which may include [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) educational [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), [local educational agencies](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=3), institutions of higher education, juvenile justice [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), prevention and recovery support [providers](/usc/42/299b–21.md?p=8), local [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) [providers](/usc/42/299b–21.md?p=8), including substance use disorder [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), [providers](/usc/42/299b–21.md?p=8) of mental health [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a), youth serving organizations, family and youth homeless [providers](/usc/42/299b–21.md?p=8), child welfare [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), and primary care [providers](/usc/42/299b–21.md?p=8), in carrying out the grant [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4); and
      - (vi) a plan to sustain the activities carried out under the grant [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), after the grant [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) has ended; and
    - (B) an assurance that the eligible entity will participate in the evaluation described in [paragraph (3)(C)](#c-3-C).
  - (7) **Reports to the Secretary—** Each eligible entity awarded a grant under this subsection shall submit to the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) a report at such time and in such manner as the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may require. Such report shall include—
    - (A) a description of how the eligible entity used grant funds, in accordance with this subsection, including the number of children, [adolescents](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-9), and young adults reached through programming; and
    - (B) a description, including relevant data, of how the grant [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) has made an impact on the intended outcomes described in [paragraph (6)(A)(iii)](#c-6-A-iii), including—
      - (i) indicators of student success, which, if the eligible entity is an educational institution, shall include student well-being and academic achievement;
      - (ii) substance use disorders amongst children, [adolescents](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-9), and young adults, including the number of overdoses and deaths amongst children, [adolescents](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-9), and young adults served by the grant during the grant period; and
      - (iii) other indicators, as the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) determines appropriate.
  - (8) **Report to Congress—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall, not later than October 1, 2028, submit a report to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives a report summarizing the effectiveness of the grant [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) under this subsection, based on the information submitted in reports required under [paragraph (7)](#c-7).
  - (9) **Authorization of appropriations—** To carry out this subsection, there are authorized to be appropriated—
    - (A) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
    - (B) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
    - (C) $13,000,000 for fiscal year 2028;
    - (D) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2029; and
    - (E) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2030.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 115–271, title VII, § 7102, Oct. 24, 2018, 132 Stat. 4038; Pub. L. 119–44, title I, § 110(a), title III, § 304, Dec. 1, 2025, 139 Stat. 677, 685.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section is comprised of section 7102 of Pub. L. 115–271. Subsec. (a) of section 7102 of Pub. L. 115–271 amended section 290bb–7 of this title.

Section was enacted as part of the Substance Use–Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act, also known as the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, and not as part of the Public Health Service Act which comprises this chapter.

### Amendments

2025—Subsec. (c)(2)(A)(i). Pub. L. 119–44, § 304(1)(A)(i), inserted “, or a consortium of local educational agencies,” after “a local educational agency” and substituted “secondary schools” for “high schools”.

Subsec. (c)(2)(A)(vi). Pub. L. 119–44, § 304(1)(A)(ii), substituted “Tribe, or Tribal” for “tribe, or tribal”.

Subsec. (c)(2)(E). Pub. L. 119–44, § 304(1)(B), amended subpar. (E) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The terms ‘Indian tribe’ and ‘tribal organization’ have the meanings given such terms in section 5304 of title 25.”

Subsec. (c)(2)(K), (L). Pub. L. 119–44, § 304(1)(C), (D), added subpar. (K) and redesignated former subpar. (K) as (L).

Subsec. (c)(3)(A). Pub. L. 119–44, § 304(2), in introductory provisions, struck out “and abuse” before “by children,” and inserted “at increased risk for substance misuse” after “specific populations”.

Subsec. (c)(3)(A)(i). Pub. L. 119–44, § 110(a)(1), inserted “, which may include strategies to increase education and awareness of the potency and dangers of synthetic opioids (including drugs contaminated with fentanyl) and, as appropriate, other emerging drug use or misuse issues” before semicolon at end.

Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 119–44, § 304(3)(A), substituted “Indian Tribes” for “Indian tribes” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (c)(4)(A). Pub. L. 119–44, § 304(3)(B), struck out “and abuse” before “by children,”.

Pub. L. 119–44, § 110(a)(2), inserted “and strategies to increase education and awareness of the potency and dangers of synthetic opioids (including drugs contaminated with fentanyl) and, as appropriate, emerging drug use or misuse issues” before semicolon at end.

Subsec. (c)(4)(B). Pub. L. 119–44, § 304(3)(C), substituted “peer-to-peer support” for “peer mentoring”.

Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 119–44, § 304(4), substituted “Tribal” for “tribal”.

Subsec. (c)(6)(A)(vi). Pub. L. 119–44, § 304(5), added cl. (vi).

Subsec. (c)(8). Pub. L. 119–44, § 304(6), substituted “2028” for “2022”.

Subsec. (c)(9). Pub. L. 119–44, § 304(7), amended par. (9) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “There is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 to carry out this subsection for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.”