Drug and alcohol addiction is complex and has a significant impact on the individual struggling with the disorder as well as those closest to him. Drug Addiction Support notes that many living with substance addiction believe the problem affects only the self and is no business of any other person. However, the cost to society is immense on varying levels. The financial implications as well as excessive use of health-care resources for managing people with addiction-related health problems is extensive. Society contributes for funding law enforcement, housing those requiring incarceration due to drug related crimes and paying taxes for preventive measures to cut down future incidence of drug use in youth.
Law, Crime and Incarceration
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the estimated economic cost to society for resources related to substance abuse crime and criminal justice, is over 55 billion dollars in a given year. The government launched a "War on Drugs" campaign decades ago, yet the crime rate related to drug manufacture and use has increased in that time frame. The drug problem is not only secluded to illegal substances such as marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine, but also prescription drug addiction has risen, according to Drug Addiction Support. Additionally, the National Institute on Drug Abuse notes that at least half of the crimes such as homicide, burglary, and assault are committed by individuals under the influence of drugs. Nearly 60 percent of the federal prison population is incarcerated for drug-related crimes.
Medical Care and Health
According to the Marin Institute, annual health care expenditures for drug related problems exceeds $100 billion, not including alcohol-related health care issues. The National Institute on Drug Abuse explains that drug use is a serious public health problem attributed to increased heart disease in users of cocaine, ecstasy and amphetamines as well as over one-third of people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Injection drug use is the culprit in most cases of contracting hepatitis C from infected syringes and alcoholism accounts for nearly 40 percent of people occupying emergency medical care due to complications from acute or chronic drinking. Health care cost impacts society due to the substance user prolonging treatment, which worsens complications from contracting illness or due to the substance user not having employment and health care to begin with. Drug users that have health plans tend to have numerous drug-related medical conditions, which drives the cost of health care premiums up for all of society.
Risking Employment
Employed drug users are more likely than non-substance users to miss work frequently and have an unstable work history, notes the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Loss of productivity at work attributed to the drug user is due to illness, premature death or incarceration to the tune of over $300 billion in a given year as reported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Additionally, the National Drug Intelligence Center notes that job related accidents and stealing from the employer are risks that occur due to drug users attending work intoxicated.
Providing Treatment and Prevention
The longstanding problem in society with drug use prompts ongoing efforts for treatment and prevention in the community. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration explains that beginning prevention in grade-school saves society billions of dollars overall. However, it is noted that prevention efforts do fail. Drug treatment centers aim to provide the most comprehensive services for recovery success, yet the nature of substance addiction indicates that no matter the immediate success of treatment, relapse is often inevitable at least once in the substance users lifetime. Recovery from addiction is a life-long battle for most and consequently, society is apart of that battle financially, legally and medically.
References
- National Drug Intelligence Center: The Impact of Drugs on Society
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Drug Abuse and Addiction: One of America's Most Challenging Public Health Problems
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Substance Abuse Prevention Dollars and Cents
- Marin Institute: Health Care Costs of Alcohol
- Drug Addiction Support: Effects of Alcoholism
