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International Guidelines for the Estimation of the Avoidable Costs of Substance Abuse

Preface

These guidelines were commissioned by Health Canada as part of an international initiative to develop sound methodologies and approaches for estimating the socioeconomic avoidable costs of substance abuse. Health Canada would like to extend its appreciation and thanks to the participants of this initiative who are each recognized in their own country, as an expert in the field.

The current document is meant to provide guidance for developing pilot studies on estimating avoidable costs. Because it is expected that these guidelines will continually evolve with future applications and studies, an International Steering Committee on Estimating Avoidable Costs of Substance Abuse was established. Governments and organizations that plan to undertake pilot studies on estimating avoidable costs of substance abuse are invited to become members of the International Steering Committee.

It is hoped that these guidelines will be helpful to both developing and developed countries. When undertaking studies, guideline users are strongly advised to focus on a single substance, e.g. alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drugs. As well, before avoidable costs can be estimated, good basic data on aggregate costs of the substance being studied must already exist.

For questions or information regarding the guidelines and the International Steering Committee on Estimating Avoidable Costs of Substance Abuse, please contact Health Canada at the following address.

Office of Research and Surveillance
International Steering Committee on
Estimating Avoidable Costs of Substance Abuse
Drug Strategy and Controlled Substances Programme
Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch
Health Canada
123 Slater Street, A.L. 3509C
Ottawa ON
K1A 1B9
E-mail: ors_brs@hc-sc.gc.ca
Fax: (613) 948-7977

These guidelines are available in both English and in French. Copies are available for downloading from the Health Canada website (www.hc-sc.gc.ca).