Congresswoman Lee Celebrates Bipartisan Law She Championed to Prevent Youth Substance Abuse

Today, Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) joined two local nonprofits that combat addiction and substance abuse, The Phoenix and PACT Coalition, to announce and celebrate a newly-signed bipartisan law she championed to fund a critical program to support youth at risk of drug use, addiction, and overdose.

The Treatment, Recovery, Education, Awareness and Training for (TREAT) Youth Act, which Lee led with Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02), will provide resources for a critical program that expired in 2023 to support youth at risk of drug use, addiction, and overdose. The TREAT Youth Act was signed into law as part of the bipartisan SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025, which passed the House with strong bipartisan support in a 366-57 vote and unanimously passed the Senate.

“I’ve seen far too many children in southern Nevada struggle with addiction and substance abuse. We need to ensure our next generation has access to the support and care they deserve,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “I’m so grateful that this lifesaving law will now invest in programs to prevent substance abuse and train health care providers and educators on best practices for helping youth suffering from addiction. This isn’t a red or blue issue — it’s up to all of us to help our youth suffering from addiction and address it early.”

“We at The Phoenix applaud Rep. Lee for not just heightening awareness of the ongoing substance use crisis among young people in Nevada and across the country, but by taking tangible and critically essential action to help mitigate and eradicate this epidemic,” said Scott Strode, founder of The Phoenix, who has been in recovery for three decades. “I know from personal experience just how detrimental alcohol and drugs can be because I started drinking and using in my early teens. It’s not just the physical toll on the body; it’s also the mental impact at a time when suicide among young people is at an all-time level.  The key to rectifying the problem is a comprehensive, multi-pronged response combining education, outreach, positive behavior activities, and social connection — for which Rep. Lee’s bill provides and is the very mission of our organization.”

“As a licensed clinical alcohol and drug abuse counselor, I have witnessed first-hand the difficulties our community members face in not only getting into treatment, but also receiving the wrap around support and ongoing care they need to sustain long-term recovery.  This bill has the potential to improve access to life-saving resources for young people across the country and is an important step forward in addressing the opioid crisis in the USA,” said Michelle Costigan, LCADC-S, The Phoenix Community Center Manager.

“As a person in recovery from substance use disorder that began in my youth, I’m encouraged to see legislation supporting prevention and recovery for young people. I’m also proud to be part of an organization that stands with individuals in recovery here in Nevada and around the country,” said Stewart Powell, The Phoenix Program Coordinator.

“PACT Coalition for Safe and Drug-free Communities is pleased to be an advocate for this initiative, which was sponsored by Congresswoman Susie Lee. PACT's focus is to prevent substance use, especially among youth, and to prevent unintentional overdose in our community. PACT uses evidenced-based drug prevention and intervention programs and practices to reduce substance use among youth. PACT is grateful for the ability to provide more resources, awareness and prevention efforts for the youth in Clark County and surrounding communities,” said Novlette Mack, PACT Coalition Director and Certified Prevention Specialist.

The TREAT Youth Act: 

• Reauthorizes the Preventing Youth Overdose: Treatment, Recovery, Education, Awareness and Training program through fiscal year 2030, under the Department of Health and Human Services.
• Gradually increases funding for this program from $10 million up to $15 million over the course of the 5-year reauthorization to help meet the increased need for youth prevention and recovery in our communities.
• Provides grants to improve youth awareness of risks associated with fentanyl and increase access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) for adolescents and young adults diagnosed with opioid use disorder (OUD).
• Helps train health care providers, families, and school personnel on best practices for supporting youth with OUD and those taking MOUD.

The Preventing Youth Overdose: Treatment, Recovery, Education, Awareness and Training program was last authorized under the 2018 Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act. This legislation represented the largest ever investment in overdose prevention programs by funding efforts to improve care, including efforts to reduce barriers to all levels of the care continuum and allocate resources to states and providers for the purposes of preventing and treating substance use disorder.

Nevada Substance Abuse Statistics:

• In Nevada, overdose deaths increased by an estimated 3.47% between December 2023 and December 2024, even as drug overdose deaths decreased nationwide.
• According to a study, 22% of Nevadans ages 12 and older had used an illicit substance in the past 30 days, and those aged 18-25 had reported 31.9%.
• 3.9% of Nevadans ages 12 and older reported opioid misuse in the past year.
• In 2019, nearly 10% of Nevada high school students reported taking pain medication without a prescription or differently than prescribed within the past 30 days. 

###