Applying cost analysis methods to school-based prevention programs.
In order to efficiently allocate scarce prevention resources, policymakers need information about the economic costs of school-based substance use prevention programs. The objective of this paper is to outline economic cost analysis methods and demonstrate their applicability to school-based prevention programs. As an example, the paper focuses on estimating the economic cost of ALPHA, an intensive school-based substance use prevention program. The cost of ALPHA is compared to the costs of 3 elementary school programs that were alternatives to ALPHA. We collected cost information for 3 years, using a cost questionnaire that was completed by program and school budget officers and school principals. The program costs obtained from these sources were modified to conform to well-established economic cost analysis principles.
Chatterji
P
P
Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, 111 East 210th Street, Bronx, New York 10467, USA. pchatter@montefiore.org
Caffray
C M
CM
Jones
A S
AS
Lillie-Blanton
M
M
Werthamer
L
L
D002648:Child; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000191:economics*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D012572:School Health Services / Q000191:economics*