In October, we observe Youth Substance Use Prevention Month and Substance Abuse Prevention Month. As we begin Prevention Month, let’s take a moment to celebrate all we’ve accomplished together, as well as recommit to the important work ahead. Everyone has a role to play in prevention.
Substance abuse prevention – Where we are and what lies ahead
The substance use landscape continues to evolve with the continued spread of highly potent synthetic opioids (such as illegal fentanyl) in counterfeit pills and the re-emergence of stimulants such as methamphetamine. At the same time, we are seeing changes in government policies related to alcohol, marijuana, and hallucinogens. Vaping and tobacco products remain easily accessible to young people in many communities. And we continue to learn about its dangers and potential social media. All of this is happening against the backdrop of growing mental health challenges, especially among young people, that are inextricably linked to substance use.
In fact, substance use has never been more dangerous, whether it is a first-time user or a long-term substance use disorder. The risk of overdose1,2 is now increased with any illicit drug use, given the potency, lethality, and unpredictability of fentanyl and other additives (such as xylazine) in providing illicit drugs.
What remains constant is the science of prevention—and the decades of community experience and scientific research that shows prevention works.
And while we face many challenges, we are seeing progress. We should celebrate and build on this progress.
- Youth alcohol use has declined significantly since the 1970s and 1980s and has generally been on a downward trend in recent decades. Alcohol remains the most widely used substance among young people, followed by marijuana and nicotine products (including e-cigarettes and other vaping devices).
- Long-term data (from Youth Behavior Research and Monitoring the Future study) also show declines in youth substance use for most substances over the past decade.
- The 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows that most young people (ages 12-17) have never used alcohol, nicotine or illegal drugs in their lifetime.
- 77.1 percent have never used alcohol.
- 83.5 percent have never used nicotine products (tobacco or nicotine vapor).
- 78.7 percent have never used illegal drugs (including marijuana or prescription drug abuse).
Research shows that the earlier substance use begins, the more likely it is to develop into a substance use disorder.3, 4, 5 This is why it is so important to work with youth early to prevent initial use as well as delay the onset of use.
Prevention is not limited to young people. Prevention also focuses on adults, where we work to prevent or intervene in adult misuse in order to prevent and reduce the health and social harms of substance use, as well as the progression to a substance use disorder.
It is important that we know that substance use does not have a single cause and therefore prevention must focus on the range of factors and underlying factors of substance use. Prevention works by enhancing protective factors and reducing risk factors (PDF | 146 KB) ― at individual, family, school, community and societal levels.
Examples of protective factors:
- Developing problem solving and conflict resolution skills. developing emotional intelligence (including how to handle and process emotions); having positive relationships with peers, family and community. participating in healthy activities and connections (sports and recreation, arts, religious affiliations, cultural connections, etc.); and having opportunities for education, employment, and engagement.
Examples of risk factors:
- Low level of emotional and communication skills in the family. substance abuse in the family. wound; exposure to abuse, neglect or violence at home, school or community; community norms and policies conducive to substance use; and lack of life opportunities.
Prevention is a health equity issue – recognizing that patterns of substance use and harms related to substance use vary, depending on where someone lives, their socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation or identity gender and access to services and support.
To optimize the impact of prevention, we need to address it social determinants of health; supporting healthy social and emotional development; preventing and dealing with trauma; supporting parents and strengthening families. expand evidence-based programs in communities and schools; and improve the safety, stability and sustainability of community environments.
Community involvement is a fundamental part of every step of prevention planning. A participatory culture, led or co-led by members of the focus community, is critical to the equitable scaling of evidence-based strategies. Intentionally incorporating and valuing the voices, perspectives, and experiences of youth and young adults as agents of change in prevention is critical to success. visit Voices of Youth.
Resources to apply prevention science in your community
There are resources for effectively applying prevention science:
To get more involved:
The reality is that we face many challenges related to substance use and mental health in our country. Instead of playing catch-up, prevention provides us with the opportunity to pre-empt these challenges – so that children, families and communities can thrive.
We are all partners in prevention. Each of us has a role to play in preventing substance abuse — and preventing human suffering — as individuals, among family and friends, at work and at school, in our communities and in society.
Let’s use Prevention Month as a call to action for each of us – individually and collectively – to redouble our efforts to advance the life-saving work of prevention in communities across our Nation.
1 Ahmad FB, Cisewski JA, Rossen LM, Sutton P. (2023). Provisional number of drug overdose deaths. National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. August 28, 2023.
2 Friedman J, Godvin M, Shover CL, Gone JP, Hansen H, Schriger DL. (2022). Trends in drug overdose deaths among US adolescents, January 2010 to June 2021. JAMA. 2022:327(14):1398–1400. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.2847
3 Grant BF, Dawson, DA. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (1997). Age at onset of alcohol use and its association with DSM-IV alcohol abuse and dependence: Results from the National Longitudinal Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol. Journal of Substance Abuse, Vol. 9, pp. 103-110.
4 Grant BF, Dawson, DA. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (1998). Age at initiation of drug use and its association with DSM-IV drug abuse and dependence: Results from the National Longitudinal Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol. Journal of Substance Abuse, Vol. 10, pp. 163-173.
5 National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2021). Younger age of first cannabis use or prescription drug abuse associated with faster development of substance use disorders. August 28, 2023.
