A comparison of mental health center operated detoxification programs in North Carolina

The mental health center program in North Carolina provides detoxification services for substance abusers in community-based detoxification programs. Some of these programs are licensed as "social setting" and other as "medical nonhospital." Evaluation of one medical program and comparison with social setting programs revealed that the cost per bed in the social setting is 58% less, and that the cost for physicians and drugs constitute 17% of the medical detoxification program. However, because of the efficiency of the medical program, the costs per patient treated are comparable. Sixty-nine percent of the patients receive librium in the first 24 h after admission and 26% in the second 24 h in doses of 109 mg and 59 mg, respectively, and 62% required medication other than librium. As judged by the staff, 68% of the patients treated successfully completed the program. Follow-up of patients 30 days after discharge revealed that approximately 50% were in recovery.