This October marks the second annual National Substance Abuse Prevention Month – an observance to highlight the vital role of substance abuse prevention in both individual and community health and to remember those who have lost their lives to alcohol and drugs.

National Substance Abuse Prevention Month encourages prevention efforts this month and all year long to ensure the health of teens and young adults.

According the recently released 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 20.6 million Americans over the age of 12 are addicted to alcohol and drugs; 14.1 million alcohol, 3.9 million illicit drugs, no alcohol and 2.6 million, alcohol and illicit drugs. Plain and simple, underage drinking, alcohol and drug dependence, non-medical use of prescription drugs, abuse of over-the-counter medications, and illicit drug use take a devastating toll on our families and in our communities. For example, young Americans aged 12 to 20 account for 11% of the country's monthly alcohol consumption; and, approximately 23 million people aged 12 or older used illicit drugs in 2010. This abuse touches all aspects of our communities and contributes to an estimated $416 billion in crime, health care, and lost productivity costs.

Prevention strategies targeting the root of the problem are essential to curb drug use and help people lead healthier lives. Early intervention helps prevent substance abuse and reduce the negative consequences of addiction before they occur. Through community-based efforts involving youth, parents, educators, and government officers, we can strengthen the support systems that deter our Nation's young people from drug consumption and improve both academic performance and workforce readiness.

According to The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) "2012 National Drug Control Strategy," each $1.00 invested in an evidence-based prevention program can reduce costs related to substance use disorders by an average of $18.00. The Strategy includes new developments in efforts to reduce drug use and its consequences and outlines a research-based blueprint to reduce the rate of drug use and drug use consequences by 15 percent over five years (2010-2015). Click here to read the ONDCP Strategy.

NCADD and our National Network of Affiliates provide an array of programs and services, including Information and Referral, Prevention, Education and Training through NCADD's National Network of Affiliates, Community Awareness efforts, Advocacy, and Intervention, Treatment and Recovery Support. To read more about NCADD's programs, click here.