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The Economic impact of illicit drug use on American society

National Drug Intelligence Center – 2011

This report presents data illustrating the economic burden of illicit drugs on three segments of American society: crime, health, and productivity. Total costs for the year 2007 are estimated to be over $193 billion. Presents an overview of the problem, and detailed analysis of the economic impact of drugs on the three areas. Crime data includes costs related to state, federal, and local criminal justice systems and victimization due to drug-related crimes. Health costs include substance abuse treatment and emergency department visits. Costs to productivity encompass lack of participation in the workforce due to residential treatment, hospitalization, incarceration, and premature mortality. Appendix contains a detailed breakdown of data in tabular format.