The increasing phenomenon of drug abuse in U.S. society impacts American society in deleterious ways that economically cost society approximately $100 billion annually (Swan, 1998, 1) The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) maintains that rising drug abuse costs to society have been strong and steady since 1975. Five costs estimates have been made with respect to the impact of drug abuse on society, and the current estimate is 50% higher than the previous estimate calculated in 1985 (Swan, 1998).
Drug abuse is such a prevalent and widespread phenomenon in American society that health agencies, the justice system, law enforcement, and social welfare agencies have adopted different approaches to combat it. The courts and law enforcement have imposed harsher sentences and stricter punishments for drug use, jamming U.S. prisons to their limits. As Swan (1998) explains, “Increases in the number of people incarcerated were a major factor in rising drug-related costs, reflecting increases in drug-related arrests and changes in sentencing practiced for drug crimes” (3). The medical and social welfare communities, along with some courts, have favored greater efforts aimed at prevention, treatment and rehabilitation for drug abusers. As NIDA reports, “drug abuse can be treated and drug abuse treatment reduces the cost to society” (Swan, 1998, 2). This analysis will explore the costs of drug abuse to U.S. society, including different aspects of drug abuse such as health care costs, incarceration costs and lost productivity costs. Also included will be government, medical community, and international organization efforts to help combat drug abuse in order to reduce the enormous costs it takes on U.S. society. A conclusion will discuss the likely future trends in dealing with this challenging social issue.
Ever since 1975 when NIDA began calculating the costs of drug abuse on American society, those costs have continued t...