The cost-effectiveness of maintenance treatment center with agonist drugs in order to prevent high-risk behaviors: Longitudinal study of selective centers inTehran

One of the methods of addiction treatment and reduce its related high risk behaviors is maintenance treatment with agonist drugs. It is necessary to determine the economic evaluation related to this method due to the concern about the cost of services. Accordingly, this study aimed to conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis of maintenance treatment centers in Tehran.

This cost-effectiveness study was a longitudinal study before and after receiving treatment with agonist drugs in private centers. In this study, the reduction of high risk behaviors was regarded as the effectiveness index. Totally, 300 people referred to the maintenance treatment centers in Tehran between 2017 and 2018 were selected using cluster sampling method. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and sensitivity analysis.

A six months survey showed that of all the high-risk behaviors with the possibility of contracting HIV/AIDS; It has decreased from 160 (before going to the maintenance treatment centers) to 42. Also, the Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio showed that the intervention is cost effective.

This study showed that maintenance treatment centers have higher effectiveness than their costs in reducing high risk behaviors.