In reality, this is rarely the case. Coalitions, while sometimes necessary and often helpful in achieving goals, require much time and effort to develop, maintain, and keep focused. Efforts must also be made to ensure that coalition-building does not become a goal in itself. It must be examined whether money would be better spent in funding a single organization to accomplish the particular tobacco control activity. A coalition should only be developed in response to an identified need.
Coalitions work best when they exist to achieve a specific, identifiable, achievable goal.
The trade-off for the effort of creating and maintaining a health coalition must be the achievement of results.