Economic evaluation of evidence-based strategies to reduce unhealthy alcohol use: a resource allocation guide
IntroductionIn the context of limited budgets to implement public health measures, cost-effectiveness is an important factor for policy makers to consider. Evidence from high-income countries on the outcomes and costs of interventions demonstrating success in reducing alcohol-related harm offers val...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1466552/full |
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| author | Delia Hendrie Ted R. Miller Ted R. Miller |
| author_facet | Delia Hendrie Ted R. Miller Ted R. Miller |
| author_sort | Delia Hendrie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionIn the context of limited budgets to implement public health measures, cost-effectiveness is an important factor for policy makers to consider. Evidence from high-income countries on the outcomes and costs of interventions demonstrating success in reducing alcohol-related harm offers valuable guidance for resource allocation decisions in low- and middle-income settings.MethodsPublished reviews of interventions shown or likely to reduce alcohol-attributable harm were identified. Data on outcomes was extracted and standardized to allow consistent reporting of return on investment. Intervention costs were calculated using a ‘bottom-up’ approach based on quantity of resources and unit price. Benefit–cost ratios and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were calculated for each intervention.ResultsAcross the various categories of alcohol harm reduction programs, interventions demonstrating good value for money were identified. These categories were availability of alcohol; marketing of alcoholic beverages; pricing policies; drink driving policies; workplace interventions; health sector programs; youth development programs; and school-based substance abuse prevention.ConclusionConsistent estimates of return on investment of alcohol harm reduction interventions provide an effective mechanism to filter out interventions of questionable value. Policymakers should also consider factors such as political feasibility, local priorities, cultural appropriateness, affordability, and the immediacy of impact when selecting a comprehensive package of strategies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e76467a2a5f64e919ab5a70b5646246e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-e76467a2a5f64e919ab5a70b5646246e2025-08-20T03:03:12ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-08-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.14665521466552Economic evaluation of evidence-based strategies to reduce unhealthy alcohol use: a resource allocation guideDelia Hendrie0Ted R. Miller1Ted R. Miller2School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA, AustraliaSchool of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA, AustraliaPacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Beltsville, MD, United StatesIntroductionIn the context of limited budgets to implement public health measures, cost-effectiveness is an important factor for policy makers to consider. Evidence from high-income countries on the outcomes and costs of interventions demonstrating success in reducing alcohol-related harm offers valuable guidance for resource allocation decisions in low- and middle-income settings.MethodsPublished reviews of interventions shown or likely to reduce alcohol-attributable harm were identified. Data on outcomes was extracted and standardized to allow consistent reporting of return on investment. Intervention costs were calculated using a ‘bottom-up’ approach based on quantity of resources and unit price. Benefit–cost ratios and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were calculated for each intervention.ResultsAcross the various categories of alcohol harm reduction programs, interventions demonstrating good value for money were identified. These categories were availability of alcohol; marketing of alcoholic beverages; pricing policies; drink driving policies; workplace interventions; health sector programs; youth development programs; and school-based substance abuse prevention.ConclusionConsistent estimates of return on investment of alcohol harm reduction interventions provide an effective mechanism to filter out interventions of questionable value. Policymakers should also consider factors such as political feasibility, local priorities, cultural appropriateness, affordability, and the immediacy of impact when selecting a comprehensive package of strategies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1466552/fullalcohol harmalcohol policypreventionresource allocationeconomic evaluation |
| spellingShingle | Delia Hendrie Ted R. Miller Ted R. Miller Economic evaluation of evidence-based strategies to reduce unhealthy alcohol use: a resource allocation guide Frontiers in Public Health alcohol harm alcohol policy prevention resource allocation economic evaluation |
| title | Economic evaluation of evidence-based strategies to reduce unhealthy alcohol use: a resource allocation guide |
| title_full | Economic evaluation of evidence-based strategies to reduce unhealthy alcohol use: a resource allocation guide |
| title_fullStr | Economic evaluation of evidence-based strategies to reduce unhealthy alcohol use: a resource allocation guide |
| title_full_unstemmed | Economic evaluation of evidence-based strategies to reduce unhealthy alcohol use: a resource allocation guide |
| title_short | Economic evaluation of evidence-based strategies to reduce unhealthy alcohol use: a resource allocation guide |
| title_sort | economic evaluation of evidence based strategies to reduce unhealthy alcohol use a resource allocation guide |
| topic | alcohol harm alcohol policy prevention resource allocation economic evaluation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1466552/full |
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