Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of unsupervised buprenorphine-naloxone for the treatment of heroin dependence in a randomized waitlist controlled trial

Highlights • First cost-effectiveness study comparing buprenorphine-naloxone to a waitlist. • Relative to controls, treatment group heroin use was reduced over the study period. • Unsupervised dosing is a cost-effective strategy to enhance treatment capacity. • Treatment was associated with reductions in crime. • Treatment was associated with improvements in quality of life and mental health