Recognizing the Correlation Between Drug Abuse And Healthcare Costs
Addiction of any kind can be costly for everyone involved: the person with the addiction, their family, friends, and the entire community. The NIDA estimates that substance abuse cost the United States upwards of $700 billion every year, with around $200 billion going towards healthcare alone. It is safe to say that drug abuse definitely does have an effect on the healthcare system.
The Cost of Prevention
A large portion of the healthcare system is dedicated to preventing drug and alcohol abuse and educating people on their dangers. This is done through outreach programs at hospitals and schools, training for medical professionals, and research on the causes of addiction.
The intent with spending money to prevent addiction is that it will cost less in the long run. If effective prevention means that fewer people are using drugs, then there is less money being spent on treatment and recovery.
Unfortunately, that’s not how things work, and more money in the healthcare system is being dedicated towards prevention every year.
The Cost of Treatment
Many insurance plans will cover or contribute to the cost of drug abuse treatment.
The treatment process for drug abuse can be a long one, with multiple factors affecting the outcome. It largely depends on the type of drug, the person themselves, how long they’ve been addicted, and the amount of damage the drug has done.
The NIDA suggests that treatment can help reduce health and social costs associated with drug addiction, often at amounts far more than the treatment’s cost. Things like incarceration, which costs roughly $24,000 per person per year, are noticeably costly when compared to treatment options like methadone maintenance, which costs about $4,700 per year per patient.
Treatment costs can often be covered through insurance, but it depends on the company, the plan the person has, and the treatment facility. Of course, the length of the treatment and the amount of care that is required for the person to reach recovery can also bring the cost up.
On average, the treatment costs for drug and substance abuse can be the cheapest part of the addiction, and there are many ways to help alleviate fees. Research groups and non-profits, when they are an option, tend to take a large portion of the burden of treatment costs from the patient and the healthcare system.
Federal Costs
The Drug Enforcement Administration is the federal group that monitors the legal aspects of drug abuse. They are one of many organizations dedicated to combating drug and substance abuse. The concept of a “war on drugs” can affect healthcare costs simply by giving the medical community an idea of the reach drugs currently have.
Many federal groups do research on addiction, how it develops, the damage it does, and how to treat it. As a result, new information is made available and the healthcare system adapts in order to be as prepared as possible. As research and the information that comes from it costs money, the total price of drug abuse for the healthcare system is constantly fluctuating.
If you or a loved one has an addiction, please know that help is available. Contact us through our website or call us at 800-481-6320Who Answers? for more information and the chance to talk with one of our caring specialists.
In Lafayette, New Jersey, a treatment center has hired a new chief executive officer to oversee their facility. Stanley Frank, RN, MBA will be the new CEO of Sunrise House Treatment Center. In addition to the facility, Frank will run American Addiction Centers, which is the overseeing group that includes Sunrise House and many other….
Eating Disorders and the Brain Eating disorders are extremely problematic to an individual and their family, especially when treatment is not received in time. Eating disorders normally stem from a person’s poor and distorted body image of their self. For example, people with anorexia typically believe they are overweight and need to lose weight, even….
When it comes to addiction and other mental health issues, the problems are often intertwined. Substance abuse and mental health disorders are often co-occurring and it’s estimated that over 8 million adults in the US have dual diagnoses. For those that are addicted, six out of 10 have at least one mental health disorder, which….
An individual who suffers from dual diagnosis is considered to have both a substance abuse problem and a psychiatric illness at the same time. Dual diagnosis causes some additional challenges when it comes to treatment for addiction because both the chemical dependency and the mental condition of the individual must be treated in conjunction with….
If you are addicted to drugs and have come to the realization that you need help then it’s time to figure out what drug rehab center is going to be most effective for your individual needs. There are a number of specialized drug rehab centers that each provide a range of services that are aimed….
Alcohol, though legal for people over the age of 21, still causes detrimental consequences. The fact that alcohol is a legal substance is likely the reason why the negative role that alcohol plays in the community can be seen in nearly any situation including school, home, special events and even work. It doesn’t really matter….
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there are a variety of treatment options available. Which one you choose is an extremely difficult and important choice. You should ask some questions before you choose a program to make sure that the program is right for you. 1. Do I want Inpatient or Outpatient Care?….
Sometimes it’s not as easy as you would think to recognize the signs of teenage drug abuse but for the parent of a teenager, a firm understanding of the signs and symptoms of drug abuse is vital. If you can recognize the early signs that your teenager may be abusing drugs then you can quickly….
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, stress is one of the main causes of drug and alcohol addiction. The holidays are known to be a particularly stressful time for many who are already experiencing depression and anxiety. If you are suffering from an addiction that is rapidly growing due to holiday stress you….
Obviously enough, no two drug rehab centers are the same but what is not always so obvious is the fact that no two rehab centers are created equal. The search for a drug rehab center that actually understands your addiction and ways to treat such addiction can be both overwhelming and exhausting. Drug rehab centers are only successful in treating those who they view as a unique individual with unique needs, and for whom they tailor a program that is specially designed to help one person—YOU!
Calls to numbers on a specific treatment center listing will be routed to that treatment center. Additional calls will also be forwarded and returned by a quality treatment center within the USA.
Calls to any general helpline (non-facility specific 1-8XX numbers) for your visit will be answered by a licensed drug and alcohol rehab facility, a paid advertiser on RehabCenters.com.
