The prevention paradox was first formally described in 1981[1] by the epidemiologist Geoffrey Rose.
Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, the term "prevention paradox" was also used to describe the apparent paradox of people questioning steps to prevent the spread of the pandemic because the prophesied spread did not occur.
For example, Rose describes the case of Down syndrome where maternal age is a risk factor.
This situation is paradoxical because it is common and logical to equate high-risk populations with making up the majority of the burden of disease.
Greater societal gain will be obtained by achieving a small reduction in alcohol misuse within a far larger group of "risky" drinkers with less serious problems than by trying to reduce problems among a smaller number of dependent drinkers.