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are in Research Treatment
Works factsheetThe
Financial Costs of Substance Abuse and Treatment Substance
Abuse Treatment Planning Guide and Checklist for Treatment-Based Drug Courts,
US Department of Health and Human Services, 1997. The
Costs of Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Alcohol
and drug abuse cost over $166 billion each year in lost productivity, law enforcement,
criminal case processing, treatment and health care (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation,
1993). An
estimated 27.8 million Americans need substance abuse treatment (National Household
Survey on Drug Abuse, 1996). 33
percent of all criminal justice costs relate to substance abuse (Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation). More
than 70 conditions requiring hospitalisation, most notably cancer, heart disease
and HIV/AIDS, have risk factors associated with substance abuse, and $ 1 of every
$5 Medicaid spends on hospital care is attributable to substance abuse or a related
condition.
Treatment
Is a Good Investment
A
recent California study found that $1 invested in substance abuse treatment saves
taxpayers $7 in future costs. An
earlier UCLA study estimated that $1 invested in treatment could save $11.54 in
combined medical and social costs. In
Oregon, for every $1 spent on substance abuse treatment $5.60 was returned in
public savings on reduced welfare, food stamps, Medicaid, crime courts and imprisonment.
$14.9 million in tax funds spent in 1991-92 on treatment produced at least $83.1
million in avoided costs over the next three years.
In
Minnesota, each $1 spent on treatment earned an $.80 offset within the first year
through reductions in costs associated with clients' medical, hospital, psychiatric,
justice and other costs.
Treatment
Reduces Substance Abuses Treatment
Reduces Health Care Costs
Blue
Cross/Blue Shield found that families" health care costs dropped by 50 percent
after treatment, showing a reduction from $100 a month in the 2 years prior to
treatment to $13.34 per month in the fifth year after treatment.
Aetna
Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan showed overall health care costs of alcoholics
rose from $130 to $1,370 per month prior to treatment; three years after treatment
health care costs were $190 per month. Two
years after treatment, participants showed a 40 percent reduction in health care
costs (presented: Association for Health Services Research, annual meeting, 1993).
Alcohol
Health & Research World reported findings that 50 percent of the costs of
alcohol and drug abuse treatment are offset within one year by subsequent reductions
in medical costs by the affected family, and not just the primary patient.
Injecting
drug use is the primary mode of transmission of HIV among women, and is responsible
for 71 percent of AIDS cases among women.'4 During treatment, 4 percent of participants
became HIV-positive, compared with 16 percent among those who were not in treatments
The lifetime costs to care for one AIDS patient are roughly $85,000.
$43,000
to $145,000 can be saved for each pregnancy and delivery uncomplicated by alcohol
or substance abuse. In a CSAT-funded program 95 percent of women reported uncomplicated,
drug-free births after one year of treatment.
Treatment
Reduces Crime and-Violence & Supports Law Enforcement Criminal
behavior decreased by 95 percent during treatment, and by 76 percent one year
after treatments. In
California, criminal behavior decreased after one year in treatment; drug sales
dropped by 68 percent; breaking and entering dropped by 61 percent; selling sex
dropped by 54 percent; use of weapon/physical force dropped by 75 percent
In
Oregon, treatment provided in 1991-92 resulted in more than 58,000 fewer crimes
in the three years that followed. Arrests
decreased one year after treatment in the following States (compare these figures
with the national average rate of recidivism/repeat arrests without treatment
at 47 percent) Ohio
arrests dropped by 90 percent Texas
arrests dropped by 80 percent California
arrests dropped by 60 percent Iowa
arrests dropped by 50 percent
Oregon
found that persons who completed treatment reduced their involvement with child
protective services by 50 percent, while those who did not complete treatment
reduced their involvement by 22 percent. Treatment
is an effective partner in court programs. Preliminary results from the CSAT funded
D.C. Drug Court program show that drug use dropped from 100 percent to 40 percent
during treatment, compared with a reduction from 100 percent to 70 percent for
those not receiving treatment. Treatment
can effectively support law enforcement efforts. A Rand study found that treatment
is 23 times more effective in reducing cocaine consumption than source country
control through interdiction methods, and 7.3 times more effective than domestic
law enforcement methods.
Treatment
Reduces Welfare Costs
Employment
increased by 44 percent during treatment, and stabilized at an increase of 94
percent after one year of treatment. $6,000
is saved for each woman who leaves welfare and becomes employed. A CSAT funded
evaluation showed that one year after treatment, 40 percent of the women eliminated
or reduced their dependence on welfare. Oregon
found that annual earnings for those who completed treatment ranged from 49 percent
higher for those who completed outpatient treatment to 136 percent higher among
those who completed methadone treatment.
Federal-State
Partnerships Support Effective Treatments SAPT
block grant funds contribute 44 percent of funds expended national for substance
abuse prevention and treatment. SAPT
block grant funds account for 12-87 percent of a State's substance abuse expenditures,
and in 16 States represented the majority of substance abuse funds in that state.
SAPT
block grant funds supported publicly funded treatment serving 3.8 million persons.
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