The economic costs of heroin addiction in the United States.
This study documents the costs of heroin addiction in the United States, both to the addict and society at large. Using a cost-of-illness approach, costs were estimated in four broad areas: medical care, lost productivity, crime, and social welfare. We estimate that the cost of heroin addiction in the United States was US$21.9 billion in 1996. Of these costs, productivity losses accounted for approximately US$11.5 billion (53%), criminal activities US$5.2 billion (24%), medical care US$5.0 billion (23%), and social welfare US$0.1 billion (0.5%). The large economic burden resulting from heroin addiction highlights the importance of investment in prevention and treatment.
Mark
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The MEDSTAT Group, Inc., 4301 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 330, Washington, DC 20008, USA. tami.mark@medstat.com
Woody
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Juday
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Kleber
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D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000191:economics*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D017132:Workplace / Q000191:economics