title: Cost of specialized addiction treatment of clients with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in Canada.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) constitute a special population that may be at particularly high risk for substance use. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the utilization of specialized addiction treatment services (SATS) and the associated cost, as a part of the total cost of health care associated with FASD in Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  The current study was a modeling study. Data on SATS by lifetime mental disorder status were obtained from the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Information System (DATIS) in Ontario, Canada for 2010/11. The number of clients with FASD who received SATS in Ontario in 2010/11 was estimated, assuming that approximately 37% (confidence interval: 21.6%-54.5%) of individuals with FASD abuse or are addicted to alcohol and/or drugs and that their utilization rate of SATS is the same as those for people with a lifetime mental disorder. The data from DATIS was then extrapolated to the total Canadian population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cost of SATS for clients with FASD in Canada in 2010/11 ranged from $1.65 million Canadian dollars (CND) to $3.59 million CND, based on 5,526 outpatient visits and 9,529 resident days. When the sensitivity analysis was performed the cost of SATS ranged from $979 thousand CND to $5.34 million CND.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Special attention must be paid to at-risk groups of individuals such as those with FASD, in order to reduce the likelihood of the development of co-morbid substance abuse problems, and thus, reducing the overall burden on Canadian society.
authors.affiliation: Social and Epidemiological Research Department, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell St, Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada. lana.popova@camh.ca
authors.forename: Svetlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Popova
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Burd
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Urbanoski
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rehm
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult