The cost-effectiveness of substance abuse treatment.
Researchers have estimated the cost of treating substance abuse and its effects on medical care and social service expenses, but have rarely used the methods developed to evaluate medical care interventions. When outcomes are expressed as quality-adjusted life years, substance abuse treatment may be compared with other types of health care. This method has found smoking cessation and methadone maintenance to be highly cost-effective health care programs.
Barnett
P G
PG
Health Economics Resource Center and Center for Health Care Evaluation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 795 Willow Road (152 MPD), Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008691:Methadone / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009294:Narcotics / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000191:economics; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*
D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone