Study: Substance abuse treatment costly for state

A new study suggests that Indiana could save money on health care costs if it spent more on preventing substance abuse.

A study at the Center for Health Policy at IUPUI found that 66 cents of every dollar the state spends on services related to substance abuse goes toward health care while only 1 cent goes toward prevention or intervention.

IUPUI says the study based on 2008 data found that Indiana spent an average of $543 less per capita on substance abuse than most surrounding states.

Center director Eric Wright says the state could save "substantially" on health care costs if it spent more on substance abuse prevention.