Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 23, 2026

High-throughput and Comprehensive Drug Surveillance Using Multisegment Injection-Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry
Published on: April 23, 2019
Do individuals with substance abuse diagnoses incur higher charges than individuals with other chronic conditions?
D W Garnick1, A M Hendricks, C Comstock
1Institute for Health Policy Studies, Heller School for Advanced Studies in Social Welfare, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02254-9110, USA.
Abstract:
Concerns about high costs have led to limits on the services covered by most insurance plans for substance abuse treatment. But, the commonly used comparison group for cost analyses, all enrollees in a health-care plan, may not be appropriate because addiction is a chronic condition. Therefore, to determine whether substance abusers incur higher charges than patients with other serious chronic conditions, we used health insurance information for employees and dependents over 3 years (1989 to 1991) for two firms with a total of almost 40,000 employees to do alternate comparisons. We compared average annual charges for patients with the following diagnoses: substance abuse, substance abuse with mental illness, arthritis, asthma, and diabetes. Patients who undergo treatment for abusing alcohol, drugs, or both often (but not always) incur higher charges than people with other chronic conditions. Clear differences in average charges emerge between patients with and without mental health claims.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Drug Dependence
Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena
Pulmonary Tuberculosis I
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Dose Adjustments Due to Hepatic Impairment
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...

