Drug & Alcohol Addiction Costs $5.8 Billion

The cost of drug and alcohol addiction in Oklahoma may be as high as $5.8 billion a year in prevention and treatment costs and a variety of financial losses to society.

Sunday, July 27th 2008, 9:16 am

By: News On 6

Drug & Alcohol Addiction Costs $5.8 Billion

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The cost of drug and alcohol addiction in Oklahoma may be as high as $5.8 billion a year in prevention and treatment costs and a variety of financial losses to society.

A 2005 state task force report said addiction costs include $1.4 billion in direct costs for money spent trying to prevent addiction, treating addicts and locking up people who commit crimes because of addiction.

Another $4.4 billion is attributed to indirect costs including a variety of financial losses from premature deaths, imprisonment and school dropouts.

Drug and alcohol addiction contributes to 85% of homicides, 80% of prison incarcerations and 75% of divorce.

The state mental health agency spent more than $59 million in state and federal funds battling substance abuse during the last fiscal year.