Drug Abuse and Addiction in Society
Devon Elliott Perry Jenkins
9/9/13
Intro to Drug Use in Society Drug Abuse and Addiction are major burdens to society. The costs of drug abuse and addiction to our nation are staggering. Fourteen percent of patients admitted to hospitals have alcohol drug abuse and addiction disorders. Almost 20 percent of all Medicaid hospital costs and nearly 1 dollar of every 4 dollar Medicare spends on inpatient care is associated with substance abuse. 70 percent of individuals in state prisons and jails have used illegal drugs regularly. Drug offenders account for more than one-third of the growth in state prison population and more than 80 percent of the increase in the number of prison inmates since 1985. The economic burden in the United States for addiction is twice that of any other disease affecting the brain, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’ Disease, as well as all the others. When it is made available to patients, drug abuse prevention and treatment works untreated substance abuse and addiction adds significant avoidable costs and major disruptions to families and communities. However, discoveries in the science of addiction have led to advances in drug abuse treatment that help people stop abusing drugs and resume their productive lives. Research has shown that every dollar invested in addiction treatment programs, there is a 4 dollar to 7 dollar reduction in the cost of drug related crimes. A 3 to 5 dollar reduction in emergent medical care use, among women a 4 dollar reduction in welfare and child welfare costs, among employed men a 7 dollar increase in productivity fewer absences and health claims, among returning Iraq veterans a 35 percent reduction in family medical claims and reductions in family violence problems. We call upon our nation’s 44th President Barack Obama to expand the
9/9/13
Intro to Drug Use in Society Drug Abuse and Addiction are major burdens to society. The costs of drug abuse and addiction to our nation are staggering. Fourteen percent of patients admitted to hospitals have alcohol drug abuse and addiction disorders. Almost 20 percent of all Medicaid hospital costs and nearly 1 dollar of every 4 dollar Medicare spends on inpatient care is associated with substance abuse. 70 percent of individuals in state prisons and jails have used illegal drugs regularly. Drug offenders account for more than one-third of the growth in state prison population and more than 80 percent of the increase in the number of prison inmates since 1985. The economic burden in the United States for addiction is twice that of any other disease affecting the brain, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’ Disease, as well as all the others. When it is made available to patients, drug abuse prevention and treatment works untreated substance abuse and addiction adds significant avoidable costs and major disruptions to families and communities. However, discoveries in the science of addiction have led to advances in drug abuse treatment that help people stop abusing drugs and resume their productive lives. Research has shown that every dollar invested in addiction treatment programs, there is a 4 dollar to 7 dollar reduction in the cost of drug related crimes. A 3 to 5 dollar reduction in emergent medical care use, among women a 4 dollar reduction in welfare and child welfare costs, among employed men a 7 dollar increase in productivity fewer absences and health claims, among returning Iraq veterans a 35 percent reduction in family medical claims and reductions in family violence problems. We call upon our nation’s 44th President Barack Obama to expand the