Investing in Prevention Makes Good Financial Sense

There are significant financial and societal benefits to investing in behavioral prevention strategies for high-risk behaviors among youth, in particular, mental health challenges and substance misuse. Prevention programs, including family-based interventions and community systems, have shown significant returns on investment, saving taxpayers much more than the program costs. Despite the proven effectiveness of these programs, challenges such as scaling, funding, and implementation remain. This article calls for greater prioritization of prevention, especially in light of rising fentanyl-related overdose deaths among adolescents.