Utilization and cost of mental health, substance abuse, and medical services among at-risk drinkers.
The objective of this research was to examine whether users of mental health or substance abuse (MH/SA) services incurred greater costs for non-MH/SA services than nonusers of MH/SA services. Two years of health care utilization data were collected on 443 at-risk drinkers from six southern U.S. states. We then examined predictors of using MH/SA services and costs associated with non-MH/SA services. The results showed that use of MH/SA services was associated with female gender, military service, health insurance, and not being employed full-time. Unadjusted analyses indicated that non-MH/SA service costs were significantly higher among MH/SA service users than nonusers. However, this association did not endure in multivariable models. In fact, emergency department costs were significantly lower among MH/SA users. It is commonly assumed that users of MH/SA services are also heavy users of other medical services. Through multivariable models, this study found that overall costs of non-MH/SA services were similar between users and nonusers of MH/SA services.
Medical University of South Carolina, USA. nieterpj@musc.edu
Paul J
PJ
Nietert
Michael T
MT
French
Joann E
JE
Kirchner
Brenda M
BM
Booth
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D017281:Cost of Illness; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012309:Risk-Taking; D015144:Southeastern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014600:Utilization Review