TAMPA, Fla. (July 9, 2026) – A new analysis published in the journal Prevention Science calls for a major shift in how the United States approaches substance misuse prevention strategies and programs. The findings argue that the current strategy for providing prevention services may not be reaching enough people or providing a worthwhile return on investment. Implementation efforts should instead focus on direct integration into schools, healthcare systems and digital technologies Americans already use every day.
The paper, “Reframing substance misuse prevention: a RE-AIM analysis of federal infrastructure and future directions,” was published June 30. The authors, from the University of South Florida College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, examined the nation’s current prevention framework, which relies heavily on community coalitions supported through federal initiatives.
While such coalitions often bring together schools, nonprofits, healthcare providers and law enforcement to coordinate local prevention efforts, the researchers found the model can be resource-intensive, inconsistently implemented and difficult to sustain long term.
“According to our analysis, the current prevention infrastructure has not evolved alongside new technological opportunities or leveraged advances in prevention science,” said lead author Dane Minnick , a social work and public health researcher. “Additionally, because the coalition-based model has not been consistently demonstrated to produce sustainable, population-level effects at national scale, continued reliance on this structure raises significant concerns about scalability, effectiveness, and return on investment.”
Minnick, along with co-authors and USF colleagues Laura Curran and Khary K. Rigg, propose a more scalable and proactive prevention approach embedded directly into systems people already interact with daily.
Recommendations include:
The researchers say the proposed model could make prevention efforts more consistent, accessible and cost-effective. It could also reduce reliance on local coalitions that may face staffing, volunteer and funding challenges.
The paper also highlights the potential for technology-driven approaches to personalize prevention and identify behavioral patterns linked to substance misuse risk before more serious problems develop.
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About the University of South Florida
The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and USF Health. In 2025, U.S. News & World Report recognized USF with its highest overall ranking in university history, as a top 50 public university for the seventh consecutive year and as one of the top 15 best values among all public universities in the nation. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine in the highest tier, placing it as one of the top 16 medical schools in the nation and inside the top 10 among public universities. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $750 million in research funding in 2025 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of nearly $10 billion for the state of Florida. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu .
Prevention Science
Systematic review
People
Reframing Substance Misuse Prevention: a RE-AIM Analysis of Federal Infrastructure and Future Directions
30-Jun-2026