Utilization and cost of mental health, substance abuse, and medical services among at-risk drinkers

Paul J. Nietert; Michael T. French; Joann E. Kirchner; Brenda M. Booth

doi:10.1177/1077558707301962

Utilization and cost of mental health, substance abuse, and medical services among at-risk drinkers

Paul J. Nietert, Michael T. French, Joann E. Kirchner, Brenda M. Booth

Sociology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The objective of this research was to examine whether users of mental health or substance abuse (MH/SA) services incurred greater costs for non-MH/SA services than nonusers of MH/SA services. Two years of health care utilization data were collected on 443 at-risk drinkers from six southern U.S. states. We then examined predictors of using MH/SA services and costs associated with non-MH/SA services. The results showed that use of MH/SA services was associated with female gender, military service, health insurance, and not being employed full-time. Unadjusted analyses indicated that non-MH/SA service costs were significantly higher among MH/SA service users than nonusers. However, this association did not endure in multivariable models. In fact, emergency department costs were significantly lower among MH/SA users. It is commonly assumed that users of MH/SA services are also heavy users of other medical services. Through multivariable models, this study found that overall costs of non-MH/SA services were similar between users and nonusers of MH/SA services.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	431-448
Number of pages	18
Journal	Medical Care Research and Review
Volume	64
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/1077558707301962
State	Published - Aug 2007

Keywords

Alcoholism and addictive behavior
Economic analysis
Health services utilization and cost

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Health Policy

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title = "Utilization and cost of mental health, substance abuse, and medical services among at-risk drinkers",

abstract = "The objective of this research was to examine whether users of mental health or substance abuse (MH/SA) services incurred greater costs for non-MH/SA services than nonusers of MH/SA services. Two years of health care utilization data were collected on 443 at-risk drinkers from six southern U.S. states. We then examined predictors of using MH/SA services and costs associated with non-MH/SA services. The results showed that use of MH/SA services was associated with female gender, military service, health insurance, and not being employed full-time. Unadjusted analyses indicated that non-MH/SA service costs were significantly higher among MH/SA service users than nonusers. However, this association did not endure in multivariable models. In fact, emergency department costs were significantly lower among MH/SA users. It is commonly assumed that users of MH/SA services are also heavy users of other medical services. Through multivariable models, this study found that overall costs of non-MH/SA services were similar between users and nonusers of MH/SA services.",

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author = "Nietert, {Paul J.} and French, {Michael T.} and Kirchner, {Joann E.} and Booth, {Brenda M.}",

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