If we want more evidence-based practice, we need more practice-based evidence.*
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If we want more evidence-based practice, we need more practice-based evidence.* |
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Chapter 2: Social and Quality-of-Life Assessment -Archived Headlines
HEADLINES Treating drug-abusing pregnant women saves money. (CSAT by Fax: Center for Substance Abuse Treatment <www.cesar.umd.edu>, June 30 1999, Vol. 4, Issue 4). Numerous studies have documented the high costs of hospital care for drug-exposed newborns. Now, a new study by the John Hopkins University School of Medicine shows that providing treatment services to substance abusing pregnant women can significantly reduce the costs of medical care for their infants. Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) services were required less often by infants born to substance abusing mothers who had received treatment than by those infants born to similar mothers who had not received treatment. The authors concluded that even more savings could potentially be realized "if strategies are developed to encourage more women to enroll in drug treatment earlier in their pregnancies" (p.110). Original Source: Dace Svikis, et al., "Cost-effectiveness of treatment for drug-abusing pregnant women," Drug and Alcohol Dependence 45: 105-113, 1997. Drug Abuse Doubles Cost of Newborn Care. Newborns affected by maternal substance abuse or addiction often require intensive, specialized, and lengthy hospital care, which increases the cost of medical services to infants. A recent hospital costs study from Florida Agency for Health Care Administration reports that in 1997 the average cost of medical care for one drug-affected newborn was $11,188. A copy of the report is available on-line at http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/csatfax/vol4/csat4-4.PDF. (Source: CSAT by Fax, Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR) <www.cesar.umd.edu>, June 30, 1999 Vol. 4, Issue 4.) Cigarette smoking cost the U.S. an estimated $72.7 billion in medical expenses in 1993. The majority of smoking-related medical expenses were for hospital care (49%, or an estimated $39.5 billion) followed by ambulatory care, which includes physician and other professional services (25%, or an estimated $18.5 billion). Individual state smoking –related expenditure totals ranged from $79.6 million to $8.72 billion. State-by-state data are available on CESAR’s website (go to www.cesar.umd.edu, select CESAR BOARD, then Drugs Conference, then Cost of Drugs). (Source: CESAR Fax, Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR) <www.cesar.umd.edu>, March 8 1999 Vol. 8, Issue 10.)Quality of Life Rating of US Cities. (AOL, June 15, 1999). A recent study from Penn State University places Portland fourth out of the top five places to live around the country. The main factors in determining the "livability" of a city are: climate, educational opportunities, low crime rate and the arts. The top five places to live are: San Jose, California; San Francisco; Oakland; Portland; Seattle. Stat Bite: Melanoma Incidence in U.S. Whites. (1999).
Journal of the National Cancer Institute 91: 912. Abstract:
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