2024 · Study · English

Australian Communities That Care (CTC) intervention: Benefit-cost analysis of a community-based youth alcohol prevention initiative

Abimanyi-Ochom, J., Wanni Arachchige Dona, S., Bohingamu Mudiyanselage, S., Mehta, K., Kuklinski, M., Rowland, B., Toumbourou, J. W., & Carter, R.

Abimanyi-Ochom, J., Wanni Arachchige Dona, S., Bohingamu Mudiyanselage, S., Mehta, K., Kuklinski, M., Rowland, B., Toumbourou, J. W., & Carter, R. (2024). Australian Communities That Care (CTC) intervention: Benefit-cost analysis of a community-based youth alcohol prevention initiative. PLOS ONE, 19(11), e0314153. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314153

Summary

Benefit–cost analysis of the first four Australian Communities That Care sites (2001–2015), taken from a limited societal perspective and focused on reduced alcohol use among 10- to 14-year-olds. Earlier Australian outcome analyses had linked CTC to lower adolescent alcohol and drug use, less antisocial behaviour and reduced alcohol availability; here the monetised benefits were adjusted for joint effects to avoid double counting across outcomes and years. The trial returned AUD 2.6 for every dollar invested: savings from lower alcohol consumption were estimated at about AUD 123 per young person over 15 years (AUD 8 per person per year) against average costs of AUD 48 per young person over the same period (AUD 3 per year). Reduced crime and violence accounted for 93% of the primary benefits. The authors judge the early Australian implementation strongly cost-effective and expect modelling of further outcomes beyond the trial window to improve the economic case, which is useful for European funders weighing coalition-based prevention.