 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Donald S. Shepard, PhD1, Gail K. Strickler, MA1, Aaron Beaston-Blaakman, MSW, MPA1, Mohammad Rahman1, William E. McAuliffe, Ph D2, and Teresa Anderson, PhD3. (1) Schneider Institute for Health Policy, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, MS 035, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454-9110, 781-736-3975, Shepard@Brandeis.edu, (2) Psychiatry, Harvard University Medical School, 875 Massachusetts Avenue, 7th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02139, (3) Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, 250 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108
Need and demand for substance abuse treatment far exceed current services. One open issue in this area is the likely cost of offering treatment whenever it is sought, i.e., “treatment on demand.” In this paper, we present estimates of unmet need and demand for substance abuse treatment services in Massachusetts, as well as the service and financial implications of expanding services. We have developed a method to estimate these costs using a multi-pronged approach involving a literature review, analysis of a state treatment needs assessment program (STNAP) survey of residents, and a Markov model of the Acute Treatment Services survey of callers to detoxification facilities, as well as other supplementary data. We estimate that in 2001 the specialty sector treated 127,283 episodes at a cost of $176 million. To provide substance abuse treatment for all Massachusetts adults with serious substance abuse or dependence who need treatment but are not accessing it would increase need by 20% but costs by 59%. To meet unmet demand, which includes a broader spectrum of severity, would increase costs by 73% and admissions by 88%. In view of the societal consequences of substance abuse, satisfying unmet need and demand are compelling policy objectives.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Needs Assessment, Cost Issues
Related Web page: www.sihp.brandeis.edu/shepard
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.