Krabbe PF, Koning JP, De Jong CA, Van Cauter RM; International Society of Technology Assessment in Health Care. Meeting.
Annu Meet Int Soc Technol Assess Health Care Int Soc Technol Assess Health Care Meet. 2000; 16: 045.
Department of Medical Technology Assessment, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Novadic, Network for Addiction Treatment Services, Sint Oedenrode, The Netherlands; St. Joseph Hospital, Department of Anesthesia, Veghel, The Netherlands
Introduction: To study the effects and costs of rapid detoxification of opiates under general anesthesia (RD) in comparison with a standard methadone tapering program (SMT). Methods: A controlled study was conducted with an equal number of patients for the two study groups. Fifteen opiate addicts were included in each treatment modality. A follow-up of three months was part of the study. The study was performed at an addiction center during the period July 1997 - May 1998. General anesthesia took place at a local hospital. Outcome measures included urine toxicology screens for opiates, degree of withdrawal distress (objective and subjective opiate withdrawal scales) and program related costs. In addition a cost-effectiveness analysis was carried out. Results: After two months there was still a statistically significant difference in abstinence rate for the RD approach compared to the SMT program (RD 93% versus SMT 33%, P=0.002). However, after 3 months the difference in abstinence rate between the two groups was still substantial but no longer statistically significant (RD 67% and SMT 33%, P=0.14). The objective and subjective experience of the withdrawal symptoms were largely showing comparable patterns and were equally low for both groups. The cost for RD amounted L 3612 (95% CI: 3473-3730) and for the SMT L 2610 (95% Ci: 1898-3302) per patient. However, the average cost-effectiveness ratio for the RD group per detoxified patient was better after three months than for the SMT group. Conclusions: RD seems to be a more favorable treatment in comparison with SMT. The RD group had a considerable higher percentage of abstinence along with relatively mild withdrawal symptoms of short duration. Moreover, the cost per abstinent patient was lowest for the RD group.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Anesthesia, General
- Cost-Benefit Analysis
- Humans
- Metabolic Detoxication, Drug
- Methadone
- Narcotics
- Substance Abuse Detection
- Substance Withdrawal Syndrome
- economics
- pharmacokinetics
- rehabilitation
- therapy
- hsrmtgs
Other ID:
UI: 102271873
From Meeting Abstracts