Why Prevention

Prevention Works

Prevention efforts in Wyoming are reducing youth alcohol use. In addition to the Substance Abuse Prevention Block Grant and state funds, Wyoming has received additional funding opportunities that increased prevention efforts across Wyoming.

2001 – State Incentive Grant (SIG)
2005 – Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant (SPF SIG)
2012 – Partnerships for Success II (PFS II)
2015 – Strategic Prevention Framework Partnership for Success (SPF PFS)

With increased prevention efforts, Wyoming youth are no longer reporting past 30-day use of alcohol at a higher rate than the national average. Data from 1995 through 2015 shows a steady decline in underage drinking beginning in 2001 and dropping below the national average by 2007.

Data from 1995 through 2015 show similar success in the percent of high school students reporting binge drinking in the past 30 days. While the percent of high school students reporting binge drinking in Wyoming has not yet dipped below the national average, the state continues to close the gap.

Value of Prevention

Prevention doesn’t only happen on an individual level, it also focuses on creating environments that support healthy behavior. The Wyoming Survey & Analysis Center at the University of Wyoming conducted a Value of Prevention Study on the potential cost savings from delaying youth alcohol use in Wyoming.

Alcohol use disorders are one of the most common use disorder in the United States.
In 2010, the societal cost of alcohol use disorders to Wyoming was approximately $843 million.
It is estimated that the potential cost savings realized by prevention of a single alcohol use disorder to be $313,700.

Since 2001, Wyoming communities have pursued a comprehensive approach to preventing underage drinking using mostly evidence-based strategies that impact the entire population.

In 2014, we estimate 389 cases of future alcohol use disorders were avoided due to prevention efforts in Wyoming communities and at the national level
The potential cost savings of delaying the onset of alcohol use for the 2014 senior high school class is approximately $122 million.