ALBUQUERQUE - ECONOMIC IMPACT CONSIDERATIONS OF THE LA LLAVE DRUG REHABILITATION PROGRAM

• NCJ Number: 25238
• Author(s): G A CIBAS
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 38 pages
• Grant Number(s): 5 H80 DA 16355-06
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

PARTIAL COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF PROGRAM-RELATED CHANGES IN EMPLOYMENT, UNDEREMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS, DRUG ADDICTION ASSOCIATED ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES, CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM COSTS, FEDERAL GRANTS, WELFARE, AND PROGRAM COSTS.

Abstract

THE STUDY APPLIES EXISTING RELEVANT DATA MEASURING THE PAST PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM IN TERMS OF QUANTIFIABLE ECONOMIC VARIABLES, TO A YEARLY COHORT OF 500 PATIENTS, WHICH REPRESENTS LA LLAVE MINIMUM STATIC CASELOAD CAPACITY DURING THE LAST TWO YEARS. AVERAGE BENEFIT-COST RATIOS ARE THEN DERIVED IN TERMS OF INCREASES OF INCOME FOR THE NATION AS WELL AS FOR THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO. THE MAIN CONCLUSIONS OF THIS STUDY ARE VIEWED FROM TWO DISTINCT VANTAGE POINTS: THAT OF THE NATION AND THAT OF THE STATE. FROM A NATIONAL INCOME PERSPECTIVE, THIS METHADONE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM PROVIDED A BENEFIT-COST RATIO OF APPROXIMATELY 5 (FIVE DOLLAR BENEFIT FOR EVERY ONE DOLLAR OF PUBLIC FUNDS SPENT ON THE PROGRAM). PHASING OUT THE PROGRAM WOULD IMPLY A TOTAL LOSS TO THE NATION IN GOODS AND SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF CLOSE TO FOUR AND ONE HALF MILLION DOLLARS. THE BENEFIT COST RATIO TO THE STATE FROM THE OPERATION OF THE PROGRAM WAS 20. THE TOTAL LOSS TO THE COMMUNITY FROM PHASING OUT THE PROGRAM IN THE SPAN OF A YEAR WAS ESTIMATED AT APPROXIMATELY SIX MILLION DOLLARS. AN INTERESTING FINDING OF THE STUDY IS THAT THERE IS LITTLE DIFFERENCE IN THE ECONOMIC COSTS TO THE COMMUNITY WHETHER THE ADDICT IS ON THE STREET STEALING FROM THE PRIVATE CITIZENRY OR HE/SHE IS APPREHENDED. PROSECUTED AND INCARCERATED AT PUBLIC EXPENSE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)