A cost-effectiveness comparison of two approaches to life skills training

This study compared the cost-effectiveness of Life Skills Training (LST) to a LST curriculum infusion approach (I-LST) and to control schools. Male and female seventh graders from nine rural schools (3 in each condition) were followed for two years. Path models were used to test the main effect and were modeled separately for males and females. After one year, significant effects were observed only for females on alcohol, marijuana, and inhalant use in LST condition and for tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use for I-LST females. After year two, only the I-LST program affected female smoking. Costs for the programs included actual expenditures for training and materials as well as estimates of teachers' salaries for their project time. Both programs were almost equally effective after one year, but LST was more cost-effective. Although I-LST had higher costs, it was the only approach with any outcomes in year two and therefore more cost-effective.