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| National research by the Children's Defense
Fund illustrates that every $1.00 invested in prevention programs
saves America $7.00 in reduced costs of public aid, special
education, and treatment services. This means that we can realize
a 700% savings through results-oriented, cost effective programming |
Prevention in the broad general term
literally means "to keep something from happening. Organizational
definitions include a comprehensive effort to ensure healthy lives
and healthy choices.
"The sum of our efforts
to ensure healthy, safe, and productive lives for all Americans."
- Center for Substance Abuse Prevention
Prevention methods include three
types of intervention strategies aimed at promoting constructive
healthy lifestyles.
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- Universal
Strategies - target the general population (national,
local, school, neighborhood), with messages and programs aimed
at preventing or delaying the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other
drugs. All members of the population share the same general risk
of substance abuse. The entire population is assessed as at-risk
and capable of benefiting from prevention programs.
- Selective
Strategies - target subgroups of the total population
that are deemed to be at high-risk for substance abuse because
of their association with a particular population segment - for
example, children of alcoholics. Selective prevention strategies
target the entire subgroup because as a whole is at higher risk
for substance abuse than the general population.
- Indicated
Strategies - identify individuals who are exhibiting
early signs of substance abuse and other problem behaviors associated
to substance abuse and target them with special programs.
The goal of prevention is to make
a positive difference in the lives of children, families and communities.
Studies have shown that $1 spent on effective prevention saves $4-$5
in treatment and law enforcement costs, so time and money put into
effective prevention programming is well spent.
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