Picking up the pieces from damaging social problems affecting young people such as mental health problems, going into care, unemployment and youth crime costs the Government almost £17 billion a year, new research shows.
Our analysis finds that almost a third of this bill came from the annual £5 billion cost of looking after children in care.
An estimated further £4 billion a year is spent on benefits for 18-24-year-olds not in education, employment or training (NEET) with another £900 million spent helping young people suffering from mental health issues or battling drug and alcohol problems.
Publication and description obtained from the Early Intervention Foundation's website.