The Actual Cost of the Opioid Epidemic

Ethan O. Bryson; Christine E. Boxhorn

doi:10.1017/9781009256551.011

7 - The Actual Cost of the Opioid Epidemic

from Part II - Recognizing That a Problem Exists

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 October 2023

Ethan O. Bryson and

Christine E. Boxhorn

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Ethan O. Bryson: Affiliation:
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York
Christine E. Boxhorn: Affiliation:
Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

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Summary

The economic costs of the opioid epidemic include direct costs, funds that must be allocated for purchase of any and all goods and services above that which we would normally allocate for these items were there no opioid epidemic, and indirect costs arising from the need to treat health complications related to opioid misuse, the loss of worker productivity and the long-term negative impact on the children and dependents of individuals with opioid use disorder. The opioid epidemic has significantly increased the financial burden on the criminal justice system as governments must now cover the costs for increased law enforcement, the judiciary, corrections, probation services, and parole. Medical costs directly related to the treatment ofopioid use disorder include inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment, the costs for methadone, buprenorphine, and naloxone. In this chapter we look at the specific areas in which the opioid epidemic has had a very real, and very negative effect on the world economy.

Keywords

direct costs indirect costs hidden costs lost productivity financial burden treatment costs cost of prevention Insys Therapeutics medication-assisted treatment medication for opioid use disorder MOUD neonatal abstinence syndrome

Type: Chapter
Information: The Opioid Epidemic
Origins, Current State and Potential Solutions
, pp. 77 - 93

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009256551.011 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2023

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References

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