New CDC resource released today highlight effective strategies to prevent substance use among U.S. teens. ENGAGE: Evidence-Based Strategies to Prevent Youth Substance Use represents the best available information on what works to prevent youth substance use and showcases how to implement and evaluate programs.
Youth substance use is preventable. The substance use landscape is continually evolving, and prevention efforts need to keep up with these changing circumstances. ENGAGE offers state and local organizations an easily accessible resource to plan for and implement a wide range of evidence-based strategies to prevent substance use before youth reach college age. It includes six strategies - each with several different approaches, along with evidence to support each approach. [CDC]
Youth substance use is a significant public health problem.
- Early exposure to substances during critical points in development may disrupt healthy brain development.
- In 2024, approximately 26% of 12th graders in the U.S. used illegal substances in the past year, such as cannabis, LSD and other hallucinogens, cocaine or heroin, other narcotics, amphetamines, sedatives, or tranquilizers not under a doctor’s orders.
- Early exposure to substance use increases risk for being diagnosed with a substance use disorder (SUD); SUDs are linked to developing chronic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, or other mental health conditions like depression.
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