Domain 5: Creating healthy environments that can yield long-term declines in the incidence of addiction

Fostering healthier environments (e.g., through programs for safe disposal of opioid pills, substance use prevention, and childhood enrichment) may yield long-term declines in the incidence of addiction.

The Commission therefore makes the following recommendations:

Raise the quality of excess opioid disposal programs in the USA

Recommendation 5a: Policymakers in the USA should implement more effective procedures to reduce the supply of excess opioid pills.

Integrate substance use prevention programs with those targeting other problems

Recommendation 5b: Substance use prevention efforts should be “horizontal”, building healthy environments and strengthening individual capacities that protect against a broad range of difficulties. This includes use of licit and illicit drugs, as well as unhealthy eating, depression and anxiety, social isolation, school failure and dropout, risky sexual behavior, bullying and other antisocial behavior, and suicidality. 

Expand early childhood enrichment programs for low-income families

Recommendation 5c: Early childhood enrichment programs for low-income families should be expanded as a long-term strategy for reducing addiction, amongst many other benefits.