Promising Strategies To Reduce Substance Abuse

Substance abuse is one of the most pervasive problems facing our nation, costing over $275 billion in health care costs, lost productivity, related crime and other social costs, and contributing to over 130,000 deaths each year. To help communities address the devastating effects of illicit drug and alcohol abuse, this volume has been developed to highlight best practices in prevention, treatment, and law enforcement. It is intended to serve as a guide to communities by identifying the core elements of promising strategies and providing examples of programs that are making a difference locally. Contents: prevention, treatment, and law enforcement.

Culmination of a survey and review conducted by a U.S. Department of Justice Work Group and COSMOS Corporation.

All across the United States, individuals, families, communities, and health care systems are struggling to cope with substance use, misuse, and substance use disorders. Substance misuse and substance use disorders have devastating effects, disrupt the future plans of too many young people, and all too often, end lives prematurely and tragically. Substance misuse is a major public health challenge and a priority for our nation to address. The effects of substance use are cumulative and costly for our society, placing burdens on workplaces, the health care system, families, states, and communities. The Report discusses opportunities to bring substance use disorder treatment and mainstream health care systems into alignment so that they can address a person's overall health, rather than a substance misuse or a physical health condition alone or in isolation. It also provides suggestions and recommendations for action that everyone-individuals, families, community leaders, law enforcement, health care professionals, policymakers, and researchers-can take to prevent substance misuse and reduce its consequences.