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Monday, January 22, 2007

Clients who abused alcohol have higher net benefit to cost than those who abused other drugs



The net benefits associated with treatment are significantly higher among clients who abused alcohol than those who abused other drugs – California Benefit-Cost Study

The California benefit-cost analysis of substance abuse treatment study found that substance abuse treatment is associated with monetary benefit to society, representing a greater than 7:1 ratio of benefits to cost.
The net benefits associated with substance abuse treatment were significantly higher among clients who abused alcohol than those who abused other drugs:

“Multiple Regression Models.
To examine the extent to which the net benefits associated with substance abuse treatment vary across client subgroups, we estimated a linear regression of net benefits (total costs minus total benefits) as a function of the client’s age; sex; marital, employment, and homelessness status; education; treatment modality; primary substance abused; and ASI subscale scores. The net benefits associated with substance abuse treatment were $4,888 lower among women than men ( p=.007). Clients who abused alcohol had $8,185 ( p=.02) more in net benefits than those who abused substances other than alcohol, methamphetamines, cocaine, heroin, or marijuana.” p.13.

Thanks to Jason Schwarz, Addiction and Recovery News, for providing the link to the California benefit-cost analysis of substance abuse treatment study.
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