ABSTRACT
Evaluators of substance abuse prevention programs are being asked to assess multiple and simultaneous interventions occurring in complex settings. The field of substance abuse prevention currently has no overarching conceptual evaluative framework for evaluating its programs. This paper presents a three-dimensional model for conceptualizing existing prevention programs, defining and measuring effects of prevention programs, and making a connection between those programmatic effects, and the interests of the funder. This paper describes the methodology and its use for promoting the efficiency and effectiveness of substance abuse prevention programs.