Strengthening Benefit-Cost Analyses of Substance Abuse Prevention

描述（由申请人提供）：据估计，药物滥用每年使国家损失超过1800亿美元（French等人，2008; Harwood，2004; Mark等人，二○ ○七年; Schori，2011年），但很少有人知道目前的循证预防干预措施（EBPI）是否可以有效地降低这些成本（即，项目收益是否大于运行项目的成本; Aos等人，2004，2011; Heckman等人，2010年）。这在很大程度上是因为研究人员缺乏进行高质量效益-成本分析（BCA）的三个重要组成部分，这些分析可以可靠地估计药物滥用（SA）预防工作的效率（Bukoski等人，1998; Crowley等人，2011 e; Karoly，2011; O 'Connell等人，2009年）。其中包括缺乏 (1)成本估算，说明采用，实施和维持SA预防计划所需的资源，（2）从减少SA风险因素中获得的社会效益的估计，以及（3）围绕评估SA预防成本和效益的最佳实践和研究优先事项的指导。为了加强BCA实践，本提案中描述的研究策略将估计和模拟大规模NIDA资助的SA预防工作的系统成本，估计针对特定SA风险因素的社会价值，并确定SA预防的BCA的最佳实践和研究优先事项。此外，这项工作将提供一个富有成效的研究计划的基础，因为我过渡到一个独立的调查。 公共卫生相关性：该提案旨在加强目前评估药物滥用预防工作效率的BCA做法。通过改进这一领域的BCAs，研究人员可以获得更稳健和可靠的估计，从而促进更明智的社会资源分配和有效的SA预防工作。反过来，更有效的药物滥用预防工作将能够以较低的成本提供额外的服务，并有可能大大减少这一重大的公共卫生问题。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Substance abuse is estimated to cost the nation over $180 billion annually (French et al., 2008; Harwood, 2004; Mark et al., 2007; Schori, 2011), yet little is known about whether current evidence-based preventive interventions (EBPI) can efficiently reduce these costs (i.e., whether program benefits are greater than the cost of operating the program; Aos et al., 2004, 2011; Heckman et al., 2010). This is largely because researchers lack three components vital to conducting high-quality benefit-costs analyses (BCAs) that reliably estimate the efficiency of substance abuse (SA) prevention efforts (Bukoski et al., 1998; Crowley et al., 2011e; Karoly, 2011; O'Connell et al., 2009). These include a lack of (1) cost estimates that account for the resources needed to adopt, implement and sustain SA prevention programs, (2) estimates of the social benefits gained from reducing SA risk factors in monetary terms, and (3) guidance around best practices and research priorities for evaluating SA prevention costs and benefits. To strengthen BCA practice, the research strategy described in this proposal will estimate and model the systemic costs of a large-scale NIDA-funded SA prevention effort, estimate the societal value of targeting specific SA risk factors, and identify best practices and research priorities for BCAs of SA prevention. Further, this work will provide the foundation for a productive research program as I transition to an independent investigator. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The proposal is designed to strengthen current BCA practice for evaluating the efficiency of substance abuse prevention efforts. By improving BCAs in this area, researchers can obtain more robust and reliable estimates that can facilitate more informed allocation of social resources and efficient SA prevention efforts. In turn, more efficien substance abuse prevention efforts would allow for the provision of additional services at a lower cost and have the potential to dramatically reduce this major public health problem.