A mathematical model was developed to estimate the
cost of drug-related morbidity and mortality in the United States, including
medical costs resulting from adverse drug reactions. Drug-related morbidity
and mortality was found to cost more than $76 billion per year in the
United States. The largest component of this total was the cost of drug-related
hospitalizations.
COMMENT: When considering the cost-effectiveness of so-called "alternative
medicine," economists usually focus only on the direct costs of
the treatment. However, it is important to remember that alternative
treatments hardly ever cause adverse reactions severe enough to land
someone in the hospital. According to the present study, on the other
hand, adverse drug reactions cost every man, woman, and child in the
United States nearly $300 per year. Therefore, even if "alternative
medicine" were more expensive than conventional treatment (which
it is not), society would probably still save a bundle by embracing
safe alternatives.
Johnson JA, Bootman JL. Drug-related morbidity and mortality. A cost-of-illness
model. Arch Intern Med 1995;155:1949-1956.