title: Changes in hospital and out-patient events and costs following implant naltrexone treatment for problematic alcohol use.
abstract: The harmful use of alcohol places a considerable burden on the community, both socially and financially. The aim of this study was to determine if the use of implant naltrexone is associated with a reduction in health care events and costs in patients treated for problematic alcohol use. Ninety four patients (60.6% male) treated between 2002 and 2007 were matched against state hospital, emergency department (ED), mental health out-patients and mortality data sets for 6 months prior to and 6 months post treatment. The number of patients, events, and costs associated with each health event were compared before and after treatment. Overall health care events and costs were reduced from $509033 prior to treatment to $270001 following treatment. Costs associated with hospital admission showed the most significant reduction, falling from $424605 (82 admissions/36 patients) before treatment to $203462 (43 admission/24 patients) after. While costs associated with ED attendances also fell ($74885 to $54712), costs associated with mental health out-patient attendances increased ($9543 to $11827). The use of implant naltrexone was associated with a reduction health events and costs in patients with problematic alcohol use in the first 6 months following treatment.
authors.affiliation: Fresh Start Recovery Programme, Subiaco, WA, Australia School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia erin.kelty@freshstart.org.au.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kelty
authors.affiliation: Fresh Start Recovery Programme, Subiaco, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Lesleigh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.affiliation: Fresh Start Recovery Programme, Subiaco, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: O'Neil
authors.affiliation: Fresh Start Recovery Programme, Subiaco, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kyle
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia Western Australia Liver Transplantation Service, Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Gary P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Jeffrey
authors.affiliation: Fresh Start Recovery Programme, Subiaco, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: O'Neil
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health Research, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Delia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hendrie
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health Research, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Aqif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mukhtar
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hulse
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D001315:Australia; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004343:Drug Implants / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics; D008875:Middle Aged; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004343:Drug Implants; D009271:Naltrexone
keywords: Naltrexone implant; alcohol; cost; health services