Table 8 Sources for variables used to predict savings from medication-assisted treatment referrals

Number of SIF clients (N)

2100

Approximate monthly unique Insite injection room clients

Maynard [33]

Percent of SIF users who access MAT as a result of SIF referrals (r)

5.78%

From MSIC

MSIC [12]

Treatment retention factor (f)

50%

General retention rate estimated at 60–90%

CSAM [104]

Cost-benefit ratio for MAT (b)

4.5

Conservative: average of low estimates

Cartwright [51], Gerstein [105], Health Canada [32], Harris et al. [52], CHPDM [53]

Average cost of 1 year of MAT (T)

$4000

Schwartz et al. [106]