Abstract
This article proposes a method of calculating a practical index of improvement for conducting a cost-effectiveness analysis of substance abuse treatment. While the methodology of cost-effectiveness analysis necessitates the use of a single outcome measure, substance abuse treatment can produce multiple, important outcomes that must be considered in policy decisions about funding and alternative treatments. Thus, there is a need to aggregate the variety of outcomes from substance abuse treatment into a single index. The proposed index is a preference-weighted sum of outcomes using data from the Addiction Severity Index. The methodology and use of the index for conducting a cost-effectiveness analysis are illustrated using Addiction Severity Index data from a controlled quasi-experimental field study of case management.
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Sindelar, J.L., Jofre-Bonet, M. Creating an aggregate outcome index: Cost-effectiveness analysis of substance abuse treatment. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research 31, 229–241 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02287287
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02287287