There is an “epidemic” of mental, emotional, behavioral and physical disorders among children, teens, and young adults in this country. Disorders such as ADHD, depression, autism, allergies, asthma, obesity, bipolar disorder, anxiety, drug addiction, learning disabilities, and suicide have all been increasing in recent years. Virtually every family has been touched by this growing epidemic in the last decade. According to Wall Street Journal, 40.4 million young people in America received at least one prescription for psychotropic medication last year.

The good news, however, is that all of these problems are highly preventable and Yamhill County is on the cutting edge of nationwide efforts to prevent them. Dr. Biglan and Dr. Embry will describe how much we have learned in the last forty years about the social conditions that make these problems more likely and the family, school, and community interventions that have proven benefit in preventing them.