Breaking the Cycle of Addiction: Investing in Early Prevention Efforts to Mitigate Addiction Before It Starts
Keywords:
addiction, adverse childhood experiences, public policy, Youth mental health, youth prevention, opioid settlement fundsAbstract
Millions of children live with a parent experiencing substance use disorder, placing them at heightened risk for addiction, mental health challenges, suicide, and multiple ACEs, all of which undermine long-term health and educational outcomes. Substance use disorder costs the nation over $1 trillion annually, underscoring the urgency of solutions. Although federal and state prevention programs exist, opioid settlement funds remain underutilized for youth and high-risk communities. Greater transparency, community participation, and targeted investment in evidence-based youth prevention are essential to disrupt intergenerational addiction and maximize public value.
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