Irwin, Amos and Jozaghi, Ehsan and Bluthenthal, Ricky N and Kral, Alex H (2017) A cost-benefit analysis of a potential supervised injection facility in San Francisco, California, USA.. Journal of Drug Issues, 47, (2), DOI: 10.1177/0022042616679829.
Supervised injection facilities (SIFs) have been shown to reduce infection, prevent overdose deaths, and increase treatment uptake. The United States is in the midst of an opioid epidemic, yet no sanctioned SIF currently operates in the United States. We estimate the economic costs and benefits of establishing a potential SIF in San Francisco using mathematical models that combine local public health data with previous research on the effects of existing SIFs. We consider potential savings from five outcomes: averted HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, reduced skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI), averted overdose deaths, and increased medication-assisted treatment (MAT) uptake. We find that each dollar spent on a SIF would generate US$2.33 in savings, for total annual net savings of US$3.5 million for a single 13-booth SIF. Our analysis suggests that a SIF in San Francisco would not only be a cost-effective intervention but also a significant boost to the public health system.
G Health and disease > Disease by cause (Aetiology) > Communicable / infectious disease > Hepatitis B (HBV)
G Health and disease > Disease by cause (Aetiology) > Communicable / infectious disease > Hepatitis C (HCV)
G Health and disease > Disease by cause (Aetiology) > Communicable / infectious disease > Bacterial disease / infection
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Health related issues > Health information and education > Communicable / infectious disease control > Needle syringe distribution and exchange
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Health care economics
L Social psychology and related concepts > Physical context, location or place > Safe spaces (injecting facilities / centre / consumption rooms)
MP-MR Policy, planning, economics, work and social services > Policy > Policy on substance use > Harm reduction policy
MP-MR Policy, planning, economics, work and social services > Programme planning, implementation, and evaluation > Programme and budget analysis (cost benefit)
MP-MR Policy, planning, economics, work and social services > Economic policy
T Demographic characteristics > Person who injects drugs (Intravenous / injecting)
VA Geographic area > United States
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