Economic Evaluation of Adolescent Addiction Programs: Methodologic Challenges and Recommendations
Received 24 January 2008; accepted 26 June 2008. published online 27 October 2008.
Abstract
This article identifies and describes several methodologic challenges encountered in economic evaluations of substance abuse interventions for adolescents. Topics include study design, the choice of perspective, the estimation of costs and outcomes, and the generalizability of results. Recommendations are offered for confronting these challenges using examples from research on adolescent substance abuse and dependency/addiction.
aHealth Economics Research Group, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
bCentre for Health Economics, University of York, York, United Kingdom
Address correspondence to: Michael T. French, Ph.D., Department of Sociology, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, and Department of Economics, 5202 University Drive, Merrick Building, Room 121F, P.O. Box 248162, Coral Gables, FL 33124-2030.
ABSTRACT