Alcohol Addiction: Cost and Consequences
Addiction to drugs and alcohol is the nation’s number one health
problem. Addiction places huge burdens on the health care system and the
economy, shatters families, and is a constant threat to public safety.
Scope of Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol addiction affects both genders, every ethnic group, and
people in every tax bracket.
- There are more deaths and disabilities each year in the U.S. from
substance abuse than from any other cause.
- About 18 million Americans have alcohol problems; about 5 to 6
million Americans have drug problems.
- More than half of all adults have a family history of alcoholism
or problem drinking.
- More than nine million children live with a parent dependent on
alcohol and/or illicit drugs.
Consequences of Alcohol Addiction
- One-quarter of all emergency room admissions, one-third of all
suicides, and more than half of all homicides and incidents of
domestic violence are alcohol-related.
- Heavy drinking contributes to illness in each of the top three
causes of death: heart disease, cancer and stroke.
- Almost half of all traffic fatalities are alcohol-related.
- Between 48% and 64% of people who die in fires have blood alcohol
levels indicating intoxication.
- Fetal alcohol syndrome is the leading known cause of mental
retardation.
Cost of Alcohol Addiction
- Alcohol and drug abuse costs the American economy an estimated
$276 billion per year in lost productivity, health care
expenditures, crime, motor vehicle crashes and other
conditions.
- Untreated addiction is more expensive than heart disease, diabetes
and cancer combined.
- Every American adult pays nearly $1,000 per year for the damages
of addiction.
Solutions to Alcohol Addiction
Research shows conclusively that successful prevention and treatment
leads to reductions in traffic fatalities, crime, unwanted pregnancy,
child abuse, HIV, cancer and heart disease. Treatment reduces drug use,
improves health, improves job performance, reduces involvement with the
criminal justice system, reduces family dysfunction and improves quality
of life.
The Comprehensive Assessment Treatment Outcomes Registry Data in Ohio
have documented dramatic results in decreasing occupational problems,
including the following reductions after treatment:
- Absenteeism decreased by 89%
- Tardiness decreased by 92%
- Problems with supervisors decreased by 56%
- Mistakes in work decreased by 70%
- Incomplete work decreased by 81%
Additionally, a California study found significant decreased health
care costs from before to after treatment in:
- Hospitalizations for physical health problems (-36%)
- Drug overdose hospitalizations (-58%)
- Mental health hospitalizations (-44%)
- The number of emergency room visits (-36%)
- The total number of hospital days (-25%)
Cost Benefits of Successful Alcohol Addiction Treatment
Evidence demonstrates that treatment for alcohol and other drug abuse
works. Treatment not only saves lives, it also saves dollars that would
otherwise be spent in other areas of medical care and social services.
For every dollar spent on addiction treatment, seven dollars is
saved in reduced health care costs.
Source: National
Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD)
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