Ensure greater emphasis and support for drug prevention.

A recent C.S. Mott Poll shows youth drug use is a # 1 concern of Americans. 3 national surveys found significant increases in youth marijuana & other drug use after a decade of decline, fueled by decreases in perceptions of harm & social disapproval & increases in availability. “Medical marijuana” & legalization initiatives reduce perceived harmfulness & increase access. Concurrently, funding for explicit drug prevention has been severely cut & under-utilized. Effective drug prevention, such as the Drug Free Communities program, can achieve population level reductions in drug use because it is data driven, multi-sector and implements comprehensive strategies. Drug prevention can reduce use, ensure more youth are college & career ready and must be a bigger priority.