NCJ Number
182044
Date Published
1999
Length
227 pages
Annotation
An analysis of the cost-effectiveness of model school-based drug prevention programs at reducing cocaine consumption compared prevention’s cost-effectiveness with that of several enforcement programs and with that of treating heavy cocaine users.
Abstract
The research also focused on the cost of nationwide implementation of model prevention programs and the implementation’s likely effect on the nation’s cocaine consumption. The programs considered were Project Alert, which was implemented during seventh and eighth grades, and Life Skills; both programs assume that adolescents use drugs largely because of per pressures and other social influences. The research also used the data to examine the impact on marijuana use initiation and continuation. Findings indicated that a full-scale national prevention program would cost about 1.5 percent of current spending on national drug control, but it would not dramatically affect the course of drug use. In addition, the benefits would take years to accrue. Nevertheless, the range of cost-effectiveness derived for prevention was comparable to that previously derived for different enforcement interventions. Furthermore, implementing model prevention programs seems to be justifiable in the sense that the benefits produced would probably outweigh the costs of the resources used. Figures, tables, footnotes, and 82 references