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Table 7 Values, notes, and sources for variables used to predict savings from overdose-related hospitalizations

From: Mitigating the heroin crisis in Baltimore, MD, USA: a cost-benefit analysis of a hypothetical supervised injection facility

Variable

Value

Note

Source

Total annual injections in the SIF (I)

180,000

Based on Insite capacity and use

Milloy et al. [45]

Percent of injections resulting in overdose (o)

0.133%

Insite’s rate used as conservative estimate, since Baltimore has a higher overdose rate than Vancouver

Kerr et al. [99], Kerr et al. [16], Milloy et al. [45], Astemborski and Mehta [100]

Rate of overdose resulting in hospitalization (a o)

12%

 

Pollini et al. [50]

Rate of SIF overdose hospitalization (a i )

0.79%

Ambulance call rate for MSIC, an upper bound for hospitalizations

KPMG [14]

Cost of overdose hospitalization (E)

$2500

Average hospital day cost for Maryland

Pfuntner [103]