and typically incur three times the average level of sickness costs as non users. Furthermore, users are generally absent from work twice as often. In terms of lost productivity, it is estimated that drug abuse costs the United states as much as $100 billion annually.
In addition, drugs have had a negative impact on teenagers. Over the last three decades, suicidal behavior among adolescents has increased dramatically. These behaviors include both ideation and actual attempts. Widespread use of illicit drugs has been identified as a major influential factor contributing to the observed increases in the rate of adolescent suicide.
Finally, the connection between drug use and criminal activity has been well documented. Eight of ten men arrested for serious crimes in New York City test positive for cocaine use. Additionally, in Baltimore, follow up studies of career addicts have found high rates of criminality among heroin users during those periods that they are addicted and markedly lower rates during times of nonaddiction. Stre
...