A HEALTH-SERVICES USE FRAMEWORK FOR DRUG-ABUSING OFFENDERS

This article reviews the recent literature on health services use by d rug abusers. A revised Andersen-Newman model is posited us a theoretic al orientation for health service initiatives focused on drug abuse. T he model highlights specific predisposing factors, historical health f actors, current illness factors, and enabling/mediating factor associa ted with drug abuse. The limited number of cost-effectiveness studies have demonstrated that publicly funded drug treatment can produce savi ngs by reducing selected health care costs and decreasing crime. Howev er short-term costs related to drug abuse can be greater to realize th an long-term savings. The criminal justice system can serve as a point of contact and provides a concentrated reservoir of drug users. Howev er drug-abusing offenders are more likely to present a variety of heal th problems including hepatitis, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. From a ma naged care and health services use perspective, drug abuse treatment i n the criminal justice system should minimize long-term health care-an d crime-related costs.