Need for a Scientific Basis for Alcohol-Involved Problem Prevention Including a Consideration of Cost and Effectiveness

Abstract

This editorial calls for two priorities for alcohol and drug “abuse” prevention in the Year 2000. First, all prevention programs and policies should be required to demonstrate scientific evidence of potential effectiveness before public or private funds are committed. This evidence can be based upon controlled, fully replicated research, or early evidence, not fully replicated, or even a causal theory which is supported by basic research. Second, the cost/effectiveness of prevention programs and policies should be determined. This requires a documentation of actual costs of design and implementation as well as a determination of any reduction of alcohol and drug-use(r)-associated problems resulting from purposeful prevention activity.

Key Words:

• Prevention
• Cost/effectiveness
• Outcomes
• Evaluation
• Prevention science