What Effects Does Drug Abuse Have on the U.S.?
Drug abuse is a challenge that affects not only the abuser but also many of the people involved in the abuser's life. When an individual abuses drugs, his physical and mental health may deteriorate. He may lash out at others, and his relationships often suffer. On a larger scale, drug abuse in the United States impacts the country on an economic and societal level. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, substance abuse costs U.S. taxpayers over $484 billion dollars annually.
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Healthcare
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When people abuse drugs, their health suffers, whuch puts strain on a country's healthcare system. Drug addiction taxes the U.S. healthcare system in many ways. When an abuser, as a result of her drug use, becomes ill, overdoses or injures herself, she generally will visit a medical facility. The 2002 Chesterton Tribune article "The cost of Drug Abuse in the U.S., We All Pick Up The Tab," highlights other costs on the healthcare system, such as drug rehabilitation programs ($6.1 billion annually), federal state and local prevention programs ($911 million annually) and treating the victims of drug-related crimes ($128 million annually). In addition to these costs, many drug abusers use federally funded insurance.
Crime
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Drug addiction largely impacts crime in the United States. Using and possessing illegal drugs is a crime, and many abusers choose such drugs. Although some drugs, including alcohol and prescription medication, are not illegal to possess, their abuse can lead to criminal behavior, such as drunk driving or injuring another person while under the influence of a mind altering substance. Additionally, the sale and purchase of illegal drugs may lead to violent crimes because an individual purchasing illegal drugs cannot turn to the law if they are robbed or assaulted while buying drugs. Forbes reported in their 2009 article "Drug Capitols of the World," that an illicit drug problem in New Orleans appears largely correlated to the homicide rate, which is the highest in the country at 95 murders per 100,000 people.
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Productivity
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When a person abuses drugs, his work often suffers. The Tennessee Department of Labor reports that drug abusers are approximately 1/3 less productive than non-drug users. Not only does drug abuse lead to more days absent from work, users who are intoxicated at work are more likely to be injured or to injure other employees.
Fatalities
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Fatalities, as a result of drug abuse, in the United State occur in many forms. Individuals overdose on heroin, cocaine, prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Alcohol abuse may cause automobile fatalities and, in extreme cases, death from liver disease. According to the Center for Disease Control, excessive alcohol consumption is associated with 75,000 deaths annually. Drug use also impacts infant mortality when women use drugs while pregnant or parents neglect young children due to an addiction.
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References
- National Institute on Drug Abuse; Magnitude
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; National Survey on Drug Use and Health
- "Chesterton Tribune"; The Cost of Drug Abuse in the US, We All Pick up the Tab, Kevin Nevers
- Center for Disease Control; Alcohol and Drug Use
- Forbes; The Drug Capitals of America, Nathan Vardi, January 2009
- Photo Credit BananaStock/BananaStock/Getty Images
