COLUMBUS, Ohio — A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outlines six strategies to prevent drug use among children and teenagers.

While substance use among youth has declined over the past decade, according to the CDC, the issue remains a significant concern for families nationwide.

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," said Fran Gerbig, executive director of Prevention Action Alliance, a Worthington nonprofit focused on substance misuse prevention and mental health promotion. "If we can have those conversations prior, if we can mitigate risks, if we can get ahead of whichever situation may be happening, that's just better for everyone involved."

The CDC reports that in 2024, approximately 9% of eighth graders, 16.9% of 10th graders and 26.2% of 12

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