Earlier Access To Methadone Treatment Reduces Criminal Justice & Health Care Costs

Among California residents who received publicly funded treatment for opioid use disorder from 2006 to 2010, those who received methadone as initial treatment had lower costs than those who received had access to methadone only after relapsing following detoxification. The lower costs included both criminal justice and health care costs.

California's public system treatment model for opioid addiction for most populations in 2006 through 2010 covered a 21-day course of medically managed detoxification. Individuals who experienced relapse were provided with a second course of detoxification. Those who experienced a second relapse were eligible for possible initiation of methadone . . .