The Effects of Alcohol and Drug Abuse on Society

Drugs on a table

According to the book High Society: How Substance Abuse Ravages America, on any given day 100 million Americans are taking some type of drug whether it's a painkiller, alcohol, cocaine, or other stimulant. Drugs abuse takes a serious and negative toll on society.

Effects

Substance abuse contributes to many society ills. Some of the most common are child abuse, domestic assault, violence and crime.

Death

According to the Oklahoma Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services many deaths are related to substance abuse. The organization states that alcohol and drug abuse contribute to 85 percent of all homicides.

Health Risk

Alcohol and drug abuse also poses a public health risk. The abuse of these substances causes a variety of cancers, diseases, and other health problems. Each year, society pays $16 billion in healthcare costs due to drugs and alcohol.

Health

The public health threat from alcohol and drug abuse is particularly troublesome. Those who develop infectious disease such as HIV through drug use have the ability to spread the infections to others.

Productivity

According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, productivity is the largest cost of drug and alcohol abuse to society. Each year America pays $129 billion because of lost productivity.

References

• Oklahoma Mental Health
• National Institute of Drug Abuse