FACT #1
Stopping drug use before it begins – particularly among young people – is the most cost effective way to reduce drug use and its consequences. Research shows that every dollar invested in a school-based substance use prevention program has the potential to save up to $18 in costs related to substance use. (ONDCP)
FACT #2
Youth who meet regularly with mentors are 46% less likely than their peers to start using illegal drugs and 27% less likely to start drinking. (Serve.gov)
FACT #3
More than 80% of adolescents identify their parents as one of the most important influences in their lives. Parents truly play a vital role in their children’s behavior. (Partnership for Drug-Free Kids)
FACT #4
Well-supported scientific evidence shows that adolescence is a critical “at-risk period” for substance use and addiction. All addictive drugs, including alcohol and marijuana, have especially harmful effects on the adolescent brain, which is still undergoing significant development. (ONDCP)