The costs of crime during and after publicly funded treatment for opioid use disorders: a population-level study for the state of California.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Treatment for opioid use disorders (OUD) reduces the risk of mortality and infectious disease transmission; however, opportunities to quantify the potential economic benefits of associated decreases in drug-related crime are scarce. This paper aimed to estimate the costs of crime during and after periods of engagement in publicly funded treatment for OUD to compare total costs of crime during a hypothetical 6-month period following initiation of opioid agonist treatment (OAT) versus detoxification.

Design

Retrospective, administrative data-based cohort study with comprehensive information on drug treatment and criminal justice systems interactions.

Setting

Publicly funded drug treatment facilities in California, USA (2006-10).

Participants

A

SUBMITTER: Krebs E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5382102 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature