The state task force on keeping babies from being born addicted to prescription drugs met Monday in Tallahassee.
The panel led by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi reviewed recommendations from members before making its report next month.
Secretary David Wilkins of the Florida Department of Children and Families proposed a $22 million investment by his agency in prevention services.
He said substance abuse by parents plays a role in nearly half the cases in which the state takes children into custody.
"And so the very simple logic is, Well, if we could avoid having to remove a lot of these children, then could we in essence invest more money on the front end?"
Wilkins said the state removes almost eight thousand children a year from their homes…at a cost of about $20,000 per child.
He said DCF could save money by helping parents recover from addiction and keep their families together.