COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF TREATMENT FOR DRUG-ABUSING PREGNANT-WOMEN

Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and drug treatment costs were comp ared in two groups of pregnant drug abusing women: 100 admissions to a multidisciplinary treatment program and active in care at the time of delivery and 46 controls not entering drug treatment. Clinical measur es included urine toxicology at delivery, infant birthweight, Apgar sc ores and need for and duration of NICU services. Cost measures include d drug treatment and NICU costs. Treatment patients showed better clin ical outcome at delivery, with less drug use and higher infant estimat ed gestational age, birthweight and Apgar scores. Infants of treatment patients were also less likely to require NICU services and, for thos e that did: had a shorter stay. When total cost was examined (includin g drug treatment), mean net savings for treatment subjects was $4644 p er mother/infant pair. The study demonstrates the cost-effectiveness o f treatment for pregnant drug abusing women, with savings in NICU cost s exceeding costs of drug treatment. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.