The UCLA study calculated the treatment costs for 2,567 clients in 43 California treatment programs, then compared those costs to clients' declining use of medical care as well as mental health services, as well as costs of criminal activity, increased personal earnings, and the costs of government programs like unemployment and public aid.

The biggest healthcare savings were in reduced utilization of emergency-room care.

"Even without considering the health and quality-of-life benefits to drug treatment clients themselves, spending taxpayer dollars on substance-abuse treatment appears to be a wise investment," said lead researcher Susan Ettner.

The study found that the average cost of outpatient treatment was $838, compared to $2,791 for inpatient care.

The research appears online in the journal Health Services Research.

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