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Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug problems cost years of quality life. And, they cost money. For example, alcohol and other drug problems cost each man, woman, and child in America $800 a year, or nearly $200 billion. If alcohol were never used carelessly in our society, about 100,000 fewer people would die annually from unnecessary illness and injury. Each year, smoking takes the lives of about 400,000 and passive smoking about 500,000.

In addition, prevention efforts strengthen our communities, schools, families, and individuals. Drug dealers are less likely to infiltrate strong communities. Schools with strong policies against smoking and drinking are healthier. Family members who serve as healthy role models help inoculate their offspring. Mentors offer support for healthy individual development.

These facts also help explain why ATOD problem prevention is important: Nearly 7 out of 10 manslaughter offenses occur after a person has been drinking or using other drugs.

Smoking and use of other tobacco products cause cancer and heart disease. Alcohol also is a factor in these diseases.

The use and abuse of these substances frequently contribute to teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS/ STD transmission, child abuse, and other social problems.

According to one analysis, persons who abuse alcohol and other drugs use two and one half times the medical benefits as non-abusers; and children of substance abusers also use more health care services.

Violence and disease represent large costs to taxpayers struggling with a record-setting deficit and ever increasing health care costs. Prevention means less money must be spent on preventable diseases. Incarceration is one part of the cost of violence and crime associated with ATOD problems. Violence diverts law enforcement personnel, clogs the courts, causes economic loss and mental anguish for victims, and dulls the potential of our Nation and our people.

Without prevention, young people make unhealthy and unsafe choices, jeopardizing our future abilities to compete in the global marketplace. We are unable to foster vital communities and ensure our Nation's vitality.

Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug problems reduce human capital-people who can be working, paying taxes, making neighborhoods safe, and enhancing our ability as a country to compete in a new global economy.

Prevention is a major key to reduced health care costs. We can reduce costs associated with:

According to one analysis, we could reduce the Nation's expenditures on health care by $90.4 billion if alcohol and other drug problems were prevented.

Currently, the Federal Government spends only about $50 per person each year on prevention, treatment, and interdiction related to fighting drug problems (including $3.7 billion to State and local governments).

In two ways. As stated above, prevention can help reduce health care costs. Second, if we can keep our children in school learn the skills they need, and if we can keep our workers productive in the workforce, we will boost revenues in a highly competitive environment. We will produce the goods and services needed to expand our resources to reduce the deficit.

Percentages of the population engaging in high-risk behaviors are decreasing. For instance, in 1979, nearly 20 percent of all adolescents ages 12 to 17 were drinking regularly. By 1991, that number dropped to under 10 percent. The incidence of liver cirrhosis also has dropped significantly. Alcohol-related traffic fatalities decreased by 10 percent, representing large numbers of young lives saved.

There are two very important reasons. First, we have to set up more intensive and repetitive interventions among those who have not been easily persuaded by previous efforts. For example, there are still over 4 million youngsters who drink illegally. There are young people and adults Who are at very high risk, for example, school failures, runaways, those who have been abused, children of substance abusers, and those living in high-risk environments. We have not yet achieved great success with these high-risk audiences despite demonstrations of promising approaches. Second, if prevention effortsare not continued at an intensive level, the gains fall off. Young people entering school today, for instance, believe that smoking is harmful, but the rates of smoking begin to increase without "resistance" skill training and practice and policies that restrict availability, and other prevention efforts. Because prevention efforts have decreased, significant gains have not been made in reducing the use of tobacco products by youths.

Better studies to assess exactly what prevention services and policies work best for whom and under what conditions. For example, what works best for high sensation-seeking youth? What works best in communities beset with high levels of unemployment, poverty, and crime? What works best with men who have few personal support systems?

Additional resources for implementation of prevention policies and practices at the community level, especially where hopelessness, despair, and poverty prevail. Expanded resources for addressing the myths and misconceptions about ATOD use (for example, that alcohol intoxication is funny or is seen as a rite of passage for the young) and to increase the realistic perception of harm. More culturally appropriate prevention messages and mechanisms to reach audiences with less exposure to traditional information channels.

Ways to change norms-especially within high-risk environments, for example, college and university campuses, military installations, and high crime areas. A reduction in the disproportionate share of messages aimed at promoting alcohol and tobacco products among low-income populations. A decrease of availability and access to alcohol and tobacco products by youth.

Everyone benefits from prevention. We already practice many types of prevention-when we brush our teeth, fasten our safety belts, and look both ways before crossing an intersection. We keep medicines, poisons, weapons, and sharp instruments out of children's reach. We read the warning labels of over- the-counter and prescription drugs. We encourage good nutrition and physical fitness. We limit our intake of fat and salt. We protect the safety of our food and water, our housing, and our automobiles.

We make prevention happen in many ways and benefit from the results. Our children are not poisoned. We have fewer injuries. We do not experience overdoses. We avoid obesity and related illness.

We can do the same in terms of preventing alcohol, tobacco, and other drug problems and reap many benefits. Let's make prevention a priority. Let's keep our children in school, our workers employed, and our country on the leading edge in the global competition.

Call or write CSAP's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at 1-800-729-6686; P.O. Box 2345 Rockville, MD 20852. And if you live in Santa Barbara County call the Alcohol and Drug Program Office 681-5440. Many of the references cited above and below are available through their Prevention Resource Center.

The Santa Barbara Alcohol and Drug Program Office in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Office of Education, Drug Alcohol, Tobacco Education Program recently completed the 1995 Survey of Drug and Alcohol Use by 7th, 9th and 11th grade students in all the secondary schools in the County. This survey was also done in 1991. The Attorney General of California does a similar survey every three years.

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