Economic benefits of substance abuse treatment: Findings from Cuyahoga County, Ohio

We estimated long-term economic benefits and treatment costs for a sample of substance abuse clients who received treatment in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, using health, criminal activity, and earnings data from the Persistent Effects of Treatment Studies. Clients were interviewed at baseline and 6, 12, 24, and 30 months following baseline. We find positive benefits from substance abuse treatment, almost of all of which were derived from reduced criminal activity and increased real earnings, with overall benefit-to-cost ratios ranging from 2.8 to 4.1. The reductions in costs to society were found to be persistent over the long-term, 30-month follow-up period. On average, treatment was found to be cost beneficial regardless of the number of times a client entered treatment in the baseline or follow-up periods. Clients who entered residential treatment and then step down to less intensive care showed greater treatment benefits than clients who only received residential treatment.