Bringing Research and Practice Together to Improve Drug Abuse Prevention
Each year, substance abuse and addiction contribute to the death of more than 120,000 Americans and cost taxpayers nearly $300 billion in preventable health care, law enforcement, crime, and other costs, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For NIDA, the key word in this assessment is "preventable." The best approach to reducing the tremendous toll substance abuse exacts from individuals, families, and communities is to prevent the damage before it occurs. The science of drug abuse prevention is still in its early stages. Yet it has already made great strides. Twenty