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PreventEd Responds to Missouri Budget Actions Affecting Youth Substance Use Early
PreventEd, a St. Louis–based nonprofit dedicated to preventing and reducing the harms of substance use through education, intervention and advocacy, is assessing the impact of recent state budget actions by Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe. On Tuesday, June 30th, the governor vetoed nearly $53 million from Missouri’s $50.7 billion state budget and restricted hundreds of millions more in spending, including funding that affects PreventEd’s youth prevention and early intervention work.
The affected items include a $1 million line item under the Opioid Addiction Treatment and Recovery Fund for prevention resource center grants, including support for PreventEd. As a result of the veto, no state opioid settlement funding is currently allocated to substance use prevention efforts. PreventEd had received $250,000 of that amount to support GuidEd, its early intervention program for teens under age 19 who may be making risky or unhealthy decisions involving alcohol, cannabis, nicotine, or other substances.
“Early intervention is prevention,” said Jenny Armbruster, Executive Director of PreventEd. “Programs like GuidEd help teens, families and schools respond to substance use concerns with support instead of punishment. We are still reviewing the impact of these budget actions, but we know these services are essential to young people across Missouri.”
GuidEd is a no-cost counseling and early intervention option for teens ages 12 to 19 in the St. Louis area who are showing early signs of substance misuse. The program is used by many St. Louis-area school districts as an alternative to severe disciplinary action, giving school personnel a supportive referral option when they are concerned about a teen’s substance use.
Since 2014, GuidEd has served more than 1,215 participants, with teens and families reporting positive outcomes. The program remains an essential connection point for young people and families seeking help before substance use escalates.
Despite this financial setback, GuidEd and other early intervention initiatives will continue to serve St. Louis and the surrounding area.
PreventEd leadership is actively assessing next steps and will share updates as more information becomes available. Community members, partners, and supporters with questions or those who want to help protect these essential services or connect with staff about GuidEd, are encouraged to contact PreventEd.
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For immediate support, consider donating to PreventEd to ensure that our community will continue to have access to our services during this time of uncertainty. Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. We couldn’t do this work without you.
