Supervised consumption site enables cost savings by avoiding emergency services: a cost analysis study

Original research
by
Khair, Shahreen et al

Release Date

2022

Geography

Canada

Language of Resource

English

Full Text Available

Yes

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

Yes

Peer Reviewed

Yes

Objective

We report on a cost analysis study, using population level data to determine the emergency service costs avoided from emergency overdose management at supervised consumption services (SCS).

Findings/Key points

Each overdose that is managed at the SCS produces approximately $1600 CAD in cost savings, with a savings of over $2.3 million for the lifetime of the program. Overdose management at an SCS creates cost savings by offsetting costs required for managing overdoses using emergency department and pre-hospital ambulance services.

Design/methods

Assessed 2 years and 3 months of a 24/7 SCS in Calgary.

Keywords

Overdose
Evidence base
SCS/OPS
Harm reduction