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NACo Report: Addressing Substance Use at the County Level

From early childhood development to education, homelessness and health, counties invest in services that help residents thrive. Counties spend more than $80 billion annually on community health systems while also serving as the front-line social safety net for disadvantaged individuals and families through local health departments, community health centers, county hospitals, long-term care facilities and behavioral health clinics.4 By coordinating and partnering across agencies, counties develop innovative strategies, programs and policies to meet the unique needs of residents. 

This report outlines five key strategies that local leaders have deployed in supporting high-impact and high-engagement programs, with a focus on model practices for other county leaders to incorporate into their local youth substance use efforts.