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Economic burden of drug dependency

Social costs incurred by drug users at intake to the National Treatment Outcome Research Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Andrew Healey ,
Martin Knapp ,
Jack Astin ,
Michael Gossop ,
John Marsden ,
Duncan Stewart ,
Petra Lehmann  and
Christine Godfrey
Andrew Healey*
Affiliation:
Centre for the Economics of Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, London
Martin Knapp
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, London
Jack Astin
Affiliation:
Centre for the Economics of Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, London
Michael Gossop
Affiliation:
National Addiction Centre, Maudsley Hospital, London
John Marsden
Affiliation:
National Treatment Outcome Research Study, Nation Addiction Centre, Maudsley Hospital London
Duncan Stewart
Affiliation:
Centre for Health Economics, University of York
Petra Lehmann
Affiliation:
Centre for Health Economics, University of York
Christine Godfrey
Affiliation:
Centre for Health Economics, University of York
*
A. Healey, Centre for the Economics of Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, 7 Windsor Walk, London SE5 8BB
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Abstract

Background

The use of illegal drugs is seen as & major social problem. The social costs can be high.

Methods

Self-report data from interviews at intake to the National Treatment Outcome Research Study (NTORS) for 1075 drug users and cost data from various sources were used to estimate criminal behaviour and health and addiction service costs for & 12-month period. Multivariate statistical analysis was used to analyse cost variations.

Results

Total costs for one year for the drug users amounted to over $12 million, the majority attributable to self-reported criminal behaviour. Social costs were positively related to & variety of factors including instability in living circumstances, amount of heroin used and whether or not drugs were taken intravenously.

Conclusions

The study clearly demonstrates the economic and social burden associated with heavy drug users and highlights the need for further investigations into the costs and benefits of policies that can reduce these social costs.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 173 , Issue 2 , August 1998 , pp. 160 - 165
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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Footnotes

†

See related paper pp. 166–171, this issue

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