One of the critical questions communities often face in the implementation of environmental interventions such as The Community Trials Intervention to Reduce High-Risk Drinking concerns "how much it costs." There is no easy answer to this question, though there are a number of guidelines. Project costs are largely a function of project staffing, resources required by evaluation, and the level of technical assistance provided by the program developer. That said, program staffing typically involves one full-time staff person who is responsible for day-to-day management of office operations, staff recruiting, organizing volunteers, and implementing interventions and between two and four half time community outreach workers. Typically, such projects are housed within community-based organizations and agencies with a director committing approximately 25% time, who is responsible for developing the initiative and its strategy, seeking funding, building coalitions with key community groups and leaders, and hiring project staff.

Additional positions, depending on the existing community conditions may include a data manager who collects information to track program trends, and volunteers who provide general support for program interventions; elicit support from the broader community and participation by key community leaders (e.g., police); assist in the "synergistic" application of program components, such as media coverage of program efforts; attend community meetings and hearings to speak or gather information on targeted topics; and assist with public education projects and other interventions as needed. Evaluation and technical assistance costs vary depending upon project size, outcomes targeted and available resources.

For assistance in determining more precisely these costs, potential adapters of the program are encouraged to contact the program developer.