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 effectiveness has been appropriate to establish a sound scientific basis for these programs and to increase public acceptance. Analysis of the costs of prevention efforts in terms of their demonstrated effectiveness in reducing health services demand also is essential. In the end, health services policy deliberations 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 effective. However, in a time of scarce resources prevention should be studied with the same rigor as treatment in order to determine the best return on investment.