Programs and services that prevent substance abuse and mental health disorders have the potential to lessen an enormous burden of suffering and to reduce both the cost of future treatment and lost productivity at work and home. The availability and accessibility of these interventions to Americans whose health care is provided by managed care organizations depend upon the services status as covered benefits. The ability to encourage managed care organizations to provide them may be enhanced with evidence of their effectiveness and their positive impact on cost. To compile and disseminate that evidence, this review of the literature presents information on preventive interventions to promote mental health and prevent substance abuse. After an extensive search of peer-reviewed journals, 54 articles from 1964 to 1999 that demonstrate positive outcomes from preventive substance abuse and mental health interventions are summarized in this document. The following six preventive services are recommended for consideration by managed care organizations: (1) prenatal and infancy home visits; (2) targeted cessation education and counseling for smokers, especially those who are pregnant; (3) targeted short-term mental health therapy; (4) self-care education for adults; (5) presurgical educational intervention with adults; (6) and brief counseling and advice to reduce alcohol use. Three appendixes contain preventive behavioral health statistics, past and present; cost analyses; and literature summaries. (Contains 156 references.) (GCP)