This study examined the cost-effectiveness of social behavior and network therapy for alcohol abuse as compared with motivational enhancement therapy.  The author found that both social behavior and network therapy saved about five times as much in expenditure on health, social, and criminal justice services as they cost. In addition, "neither net savings nor cost effectiveness differed significantly between the therapies, despite the average cost of social behaviour and network therapy (£221; $385; €320) being significantly more than that of motivational enhancement therapy (£129). If a quality adjusted life year (QALY) were worth £30 000, then the motivational therapy would have 58% chance of being more cost effective than the social therapy, and the social therapy would have 42% chance of being more cost effective than the motivational therapy." The author concluded that both therapies were cost effective due to significant reductions in problem drinking and associated costs. 

Godfrey, C. (2005). Cost effectiveness of treatment for alcohol problems: findings of the randomised UK alcohol treatment trial (UKATT). British Journal of Medicine, 331(7516): 544-548. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.331.7516.544 http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/331/7516/544 

Author: Christine Godfrey