Who Bears the Cost of Drug Abuse?
Inflation and population growth have driven the cost of drug abuse even higher since 1992, the analysts said. Updating the estimates developed in their study, they calculated that the cost of drug abuse increased 12.5% from 1992 to 1995, bringing the cost to $109.8 billion in 1995. “Substance abuse and addiction have serious medical and social consequences,” says NIDA Director Dr. Alan I. Leshner. These rising costs warrant a strong, consistent, and continuous investment in research on prevention and treatment. We must publicize these cost-to-society estimates to educate people that drug abuse is enormously expensive to the entire Nation, that the cost has been rising steadily, that extensive research shows that drug abuse can be treated, and that drug abuse treatment reduces that cost.” The report’s authors said substance abuse brings specific well-recognized consequences and costs in three categories: first, health consequences and their impacts on the health care system; second, cri
