Why We Need to Invest More In Substance Use Prevention

The misuse of alcohol, prescription drugs, and illegal drugs is prevalent in most communities around the world. The ramifications of substance misuse and substance use disorder range from the negative consequences on individuals and families to communities having to deal with drug trafficking and related crimes.

All of this takes an emotional and financial toll on us as people, as well as on cities, states, and nations. Substance use disorder affects all of us by burdening our healthcare and public safety resources, straining assets worldwide. It is crucial to curb the movement of drugs across borders.

What Can We Do?

So what can we do about this problem that affects millions of people and exhausts finances worldwide? In 1987, June 26th was declared International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking by the General Assembly of the United Nations. The day was created in an effort to come together, striving for a world free of harmful substance use.

This year’s theme is:

“The evidence is clear; invest in prevention.”

When I first came across this year’s theme, I couldn’t help but think about how important it is to keep sharing this message; we must focus more and invest more in PREVENTION. This must be a community effort with a scientific approach, using evidence as a guide in preventing and treating our community and global drug challenges.

Combating the worldwide drug issues requires coming together as a group, relying on science, and showing compassion, caring, and kindness. While it may seem like a daunting task we can make a difference and encourage others to pursue a healthy and purpose-filled life.

Substance Misuse Hurts More Than Individuals

People typically experience physical, mental, and emotional health issues when they misuse substances like alcohol, prescription drugs, and illegal drugs. Misuse can lead to self-harm, driving while under the influence, overdosing, or, in some cases, inflicting harm on others.

It is easy to see how the challenges associated with substance use can extend to the community as a whole. Consequences can result in social issues, such as violence in the home, an increase in petty or violent crimes, and homelessness. All of this comes at a cost to our communities, both emotionally and financially.

Additionally, substance misuse can lead to a substance use disorder (SUD), characterized by an inability to stop using substances despite negative consequences, that can be difficult to overcome without outside help. While many communities provide substance use help for individuals and families, what is lacking is resources that help to prevent substance use from occurring in the first place. Programs that focus on the prevention of substance use could save money and save lives.

The Power of Prevention

Implementing prevention programs is critical because drug issues create myriad other problems for communities. Substance use places a strain on public health resources, schools, police departments, and healthcare providers. In that respect, what was an individual’s issue becomes a community problem and collectively, a state and nationwide problem, draining resources and harming many.

Communities that participate in drug prevention programs benefit from the costs associated with their implementation, as they reduce expenses related to the negative consequences of substance use. Investment in prevention pays off over the long term. For example, implementing effective evidence-based prevention programs is much less expensive than paying for extended incarceration. Therefore, it’s key to continue to share the positive outcomes of investing in prevention programs.

Isn’t Investing Expensive?

Currently, many communities are spending much more in paying for the negative results of drug misuse. In fact, a report by the National Center for Addiction and Substance Use states that 16% of its budget is spent on the negative consequences of substance use and addiction. Additionally, it’s estimated that about $442 billion is spent per year on health care, lost productivity, and criminal justice costs related to substance use and substance disorders.

Unfortunately, it appears as though the US government is focusing more on cleaning up the aftermath of drug use, crimes, and other social impacts rather than focusing on preventing the problem in the first place. Prevention programs can positively impact the community, spreading awareness of the harm that substance use and substance use disorder can cause to individuals, their families, and, by extension, the community.

If evidence-based prevention programs are placed in schools, private homes, public health agencies, and community centers, then people can readily learn the dangers of alcohol and drug use. If people are aware of the problems, then it is more likely that they will choose to avoid substance use in the first place.

How Investing in Prevention Can Be Cost Effective

Studies have shown that for every dollar spent on preventing and treating substance use, the government spends an additional $60 on the aftermath of substance use and disorders. This doesn’t even take into consideration the amount of money that families spend due to a loved one who has a substance use disorder, has overdosed, or died. These families experience losses, not only financial, that could have been prevented with proper education.

We all understand that public entities have limited resources, and because of this, not all worthwhile programs can be adequately funded. If community leaders and those who create policies can work together, understanding the importance of substance use prevention programs and their many overall benefits, then the shift towards healthier policies can happen.

The Importance of Screening For Substance Use Risk

It is also important to understand that implementing primary prevention measures that screen for substance use and allow for intervention before serious health issues and high-risk behaviors arise is typically not very costly. Screening for substance use risks before they happen saves money in the long run by preventing them when possible. This is why it is wise to implement preventative screenings and treatment referrals so that families can get ahead of potential problems.

Pre-screening for these high-risk behaviors and other health issues benefits not only parents, their children, and healthcare providers; investing in these preventative measures could essentially save resources in the public safety sector, the criminal justice system, and behavioral health.

Unfortunately, certain factors can prevent these pre-screenings from being available to all families.

These include:

Prevention services actually have the advantage of reaching more people, however, because they can screen for people in need of further substance abuse treatment. These services can refer people to effective, reliable, and safe treatment and recovery centers. Also, by using preventative screenings, they can access those who need a referral for treatment before SUD escalates.

Additionally, these providers can help orchestrate an assessment referral, knowing what organizations can provide this assessment and the cost involved. They can even make a call to that organization for the person in need of the assessment. By continuing to share the benefits of substance use prevention, we can come together as communities to remedy a host of matters.

The Importance of Using the Right Strategy for Prevention

Many schools, healthcare agencies, and community centers have the tools available to them to help prevent substance use, mental health issues, and adolescent behavior issues. Unfortunately, all too often, these resources are not used due to a lack of training. This is why preventative programs must be proven to be adaptable to communities and their unique needs.

Proper research is necessary when considering a community’s particular needs. Understanding the factors that contribute to substance use within a community, how often it happens, the results of the substance use, and which individuals are using these substances helps create a better way to intervene.

Prevention programs must use evidence-backed techniques to remain credible, effective resources. They must also highlight the risks of what can happen if a person chooses to use substances and publish data regarding who is especially at risk. These programs can be most effective when led by well-trained individuals who have proven that they can correctly utilize the curriculum and understand the community.

The Center for Substance Abuse and Prevention specifies that all of these factors must be considered when implementing a prevention program in a community. Without a true understanding, the program will not be effective, nor will it be seen as useful to those in that community.

Empowering Youth

One of the most significant concerns we have as a society is that teenagers and young adults are at a greater risk for substance misuse. It’s also important to note that genetics, social class, and the surrounding environment can impact a person’s chances of misusing substances. Data like this can be shared through preventative programs targeted at young adults in schools and other places where they can be reached.

Giving people the resources and education to make better choices can make an impact. It has been shown that prevention programs and policies reduce substance use rates and other negative effects of misusing substances. Sharing evidence-based information can result in better and more informed decision-making.

The evidence continues to mount regarding the importance of these screenings and their effectiveness in preventing risky behaviors in children and young adults. When young people are empowered with knowledge, they can be advocates for themselves, for their friends, and for their families. This can lead to a generational shift.

Prevention Through Primary Healthcare Services

People who have struggled with a substance use disorder, whether severe or mild, can benefit from undergoing treatment. When we provide substance use disorder treatment and ensure it is readily accessible within mainstream healthcare services, the quality of the treatment can improve.

Unfortunately, it is more common for only those who have been diagnosed with more serious substance use disorders to undergo treatment in a separate setting. Additionally, SUD often comes with mental health diagnoses, and hospitals and medical centers that treat SUD are often not prepared to also treat mental health issues, and vice versa.

The fact that many mainstream healthcare agencies do not provide the necessary preventative measures or treatment for substance use disorders is not only frustrating but wasteful. Instead of properly diagnosing the issue, many medical facilities fail to handle a person who is suffering from substance use disorder because they are not equipped to do so. It is here that we can continue to share the positive outcomes of substance use prevention programs.

Encouraging Investment in Substance Use Prevention

Those of us who understand the pain caused by substance misuse in our communities must start the conversation about prevention. It is imperative that we share what we understand about the power of prevention programs with other stakeholders. When we can articulate the cost savings that early intervention can have, we can start to make real change.

Engaging healthcare professionals, law enforcement officials, government officials, and policymakers in a dialogue using evidence-based data detailing the effects of prevention on the community’s long-term goals is a great place to start.

Prevention: An Investment in the Future

It can seem tempting to give up hope when we read about the statistics of drug-related crimes, injuries, homicides, suicides, and drug trafficking. There is no denying that there is a significant substance use problem in this country. Additionally, its effects are not only felt by the individual misusing substances. Rather, it can be felt by the entire community.

We must continue to share the word about International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Further, we must spread its message: The evidence is clear; invest in prevention, to inspire others to work together to create a world free of harmful substance use. I believe that with the proper resources, scientific evidence, education, and funding, anything is possible. Keep sharing the positive effects of prevention programs and their many benefits.

While we focus on the importance of investing in prevention, we must remember that results will not be immediate. Substance misuse and substance use disorders will take time to eradicate.

Take heart. The long-term investment in prevention will be worth it!

Stay Strong,
Jim

Sources:

1. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (n.d.). UNODC: Drugs. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Retrieved August 23, 2024, from https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/drugs/index-new.html
2. United Nations. (n.d.). International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Retrieved August 23, 2024, from https://www.un.org/en/observances/end-drug-abuse-day#:~:text=By%20resolution%2042%2F112%20of,society%20free%20of%20drug%20abuse.
3. Center for Applied Research Solutions. (2011). Why invest in prevention?. Retrieved August 23, 2024, from https://www.ca-cpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/POP-Why-Invest-in-Prevention-2011.pdf
4. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2022, April 6). Investing in prevention makes good financial sense. NIDA. Retrieved August 23, 2024, from https://nida.nih.gov/about-nida/noras-blog/2022/04/investing-in-prevention-makes-good-financial-sense
5. Murthy, V. H. (2021). Prevention works and saves lives. JAMA, 326(15), 1481-1482. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2021.14892
6. Administration (US), S. A. and M. H. S., & General (US), O. of the S. (2016, November 1). VISION FOR THE FUTURE: A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH. Www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; US Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK424861/#:~:text=Substance%20misuse%20and%20substance%20use%20disorders%20are%20estimated%20to%20cost

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