This documentary details the history of substance abuse prevention in Wyoming and how it led to a 40% decrease in underage drinking. It includes interviews with WYSAC as well as important state and local stakeholders in the prevention system.

It documents data showing the change in underage drinking, it; but, more importantly, it tells the story of how local coalitions worked with State and Federal funding to impact the problem. It provides context to more than 15 year of work by prevention professionals and local coalitions to keep Wyoming at the cutting edge of prevention.

In 2017, economists at WYSAC completed a study of the value of prevention in Wyoming. This research began in 2012 when WYSAC was able to estimate the societal cost of alcohol in Wyoming at $843 million in 2010. Researchers also knew than since the prevention of underage drinking began in 2001, Wyoming communities have contributed to a 40% decrease in past month alcohol use by teenagers.

Putting these together and using peer reviewed literature on delaying the onset of alcohol use, WYSAC estimates that, in 2014 alone, local efforts prevented 389 students from developing alcohol use disorders. This saves Wyoming $122 million over the lives of those individuals.

To read the full report go to https://wysac.uwyo.edu/wysac/reports/View/5556.