How Drug Use Affects Our Society

The estimated cost of drug abuse in the United States—including illegal drugs, alcohol, and tobacco—is more than $740 billion a year and growing, according to data reported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA. Substance abuse in the U.S. costs society in increased healthcare costs, crime, and lost productivity.

Costs by Drug Type

Estimates of the costs of drug use vary depending on the source, how data is collected, and the year that the data is gathered. For instance, while NIDA reports the total overall cost of prescription opioid use at $78.5 billion, that estimate was based on data collected in the year 2013. Because opioid misuse (and the ensuing costs and consequences) have grown since that time, the current numbers are likely substantially higher.

Some of the estimated total costs related to each type of drug include:

• Alcohol abuse: $249 billion. Binge drinking accounts for $191 billion of the total cost to society for excessive alcohol consumption. Most of the cost is associated with lost productivity at work (77%), while other factors include legal expenses (10%), medical expenses from binge drinking (11%), and healthcare expenses from alcohol-related accidents (5%).
• Illegal drug abuse: $193 billion. This includes an estimated $11 billion in direct health care costs associated with the use of illicit substances.
• Prescription opioids: $78.5 billion. Approximately $26 billion dollars of the total amount is due to direct health care costs.
• Tobacco: $300 billion. The total economic cost of smoking annually includes nearly $170 billion in direct medical costs for adults and more than $156 billion in productivity that's lost because of effects from exposure to secondhand smoke and untimely death.

Impact on Workplace Productivity

Drug abuse costs the nation more than $120 billion per year in lost productivity, according to The National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC). Included in that lost productivity are reduced labor participation, incarceration, premature mortality, hospitalization, and participation in treatment programs away from work.

According to NDIC estimates, drug abuse accounts for:

• $49 billion in reduced workdays
• $48 billion in incarceration expenses
• $4 billion due to premature deaths

Impact on Crime and Criminal Justice Systems

The NDIC estimates that the annual cost of drug-related crime in the United States is more than $61 billion with the criminal justice system cost making up $56 billion of that cost.

Crack cocaine and methamphetamine are the drugs that most often contribute to the commission of crimes in the U.S., according to the National Drug Threat Survey. Heroin use is a significant factor in the commission of property crimes.

From 63% to 83% of all arrestees test positive for illicit substances at the time of their arrest, according to the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring Program (ADAM II), which monitors arrestees in 10 cities across the U.S.

Impact on Health and Healthcare Systems

Annual drug-related healthcare cost in the U.S. is more than $11 billion, the NDIC reports. That figure includes both direct and indirect costs related to:

• Inpatient drug treatment
• Medical intervention, including emergency services
• Prevention and treatment research

The NDIC estimates that the annual costs of emergency department visits related to drug abuse are $161 million, with an additional $5.5 million in costs for those who have to be hospitalized.

Drugged Driving, Toxic Meth Labs

On top of direct healthcare costs, drug abuse produces costs associated with driving under the influence of drugs, parental neglect, and exposure to toxic methamphetamine labs. The most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed that 20.7 million people who were 16 or older drove after drinking alcohol in 2016. Another 11.8 million drove after taking illicit drugs.

Clandestine methamphetamine labs have produced a growing number of law enforcement and first responder personnel being exposed to toxic chemicals, fires, and explosions. Children who live in homes where there are meth labs are also at great risk for negative health consequences.