The cost of substance abuse could be offset by a nationwide implementation of effective prevention policies and programs, according to Substance Abuse Prevention Dollars and Cents: A Cost-Benefit Analysis published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
The report includes information about the benefits reaped by implementing programs such as Guiding Good Choices for parents and Life Skills Training for students, both of which are being implemented by the Prevention WINS coalition. It also shows that environmental strategies such as alcohol taxes, 21 minimum legal drinking age, and mandatory server trainings have benefits that outweigh costs.