Murphy, S. M., & Polsky, D. (2016). Economic Evaluations of Opioid Use Disorder Interventions. PharmacoEconomics, 34(9), 863–887. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40273-016-0400-5 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27002518/ 

The purpose of this study was to review the literature on economic evaluations of opioid use disorder interventions. In general, the authors found that the evidence on methadone-maintenance therapy (MMT) supports previous findings that MMT is an economically advantageous opioid-use-disorder therapy. However, the existing economic evaluation literature pertaining to buprenorphine/naloxone maintenance therapy (BMT) and naltrexone is limited at this point, particularly for naltrexone. This is a useful resource for anyone interested in understanding the economic implications of MOUD treatment in corrections. 

Bottom Line: In this study, economic evaluations of MOUD found that they are associated with lower healthcare costs and methadone treatment was associated with lower criminal justice costs, however there is limited literature concerning buprenorphine and naltrexone.