Prevention research and its actual application to health services

The effectiveness of alcohol abuse programs, whether to treat or to prevent , is of major importance to health services research. Demonstrating effecti veness has been appropriate to establish a sound scientific basis for these programs and to increase public acceptance. Analysis of the costs of preve ntion efforts in terms of their demonstrated effectiveness in reducing heal th services demand also is essential. In the end, health services policy de liberations are optimally based on what effect is delivered for the cost of the service, not simply on a determination of which service is the most ef fective. However, in a time scarce resources prevention should be studied w ith the same rigor as treatment in order to determine the best return on in vestment.