Quality Assurance in Prevention of Addiction - the State of Affairs from a Practical Point of View in Germany

The article illustrates the development of quality assurance in prevention covering the period from the nineties to date. Basic elements of Quality Management are described under consideration of special activities organized in some German states. The structural development and the integration of prevention regarding the level of the German states as well as the federal level are highlighted. Cross-national cooperation allowed the generation of important instruments for quality assurance which are depicted in detail. Another aspect is to illustrate the quality assurance offered by the Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) to be achieved by the prevention specialists in practice. The conclusion shows deficits that are still available as well as future demands for the enhancements of quality assurance in prevention.