The Cost of Alcohol and Drug Addiction

The multi-billion dollar industry of legal and illegal drugs leaves much more in its wake.

Dr. Nora Volkow is the director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  She recently stated that the total cost of alcohol and drug addiction to society was estimated at $500 billion, which is more than the gross domestic product of over 200 countries in the world.

The overall costs to society include categories such as emergency medial care, crime, corrections, law enforcement, lost productivity, research, treatment and prevention.

A publication from the Office of National Drug Control Policy examining costs of drug abuse from 1992 to 2002 stated that one of the largest percentages of increase in spending was for treatment research.  The amount of money allocated more than doubled in a ten year period.  Much of the research in the last decade has been focused on the areas of co-occurring disorders and other brain chemical theories, yet the problem seems to have gotten worse in many areas.

Treatment practices have included more replacement drugs and other pharmaceuticals including methadone, anti-anxiety medication, antidepressants and anti-psychotic drugs, all of which have their own set of side-effects and don't fit the definition of rehabilitation.

In recent years there has been more of a movement to focus efforts on programs that get results.  This includes effective prevention and rehabilitation programs in communities to eliminate drug abuse as well as treatment in the correctional system for drug abusing offenders to reduce recidivism. 

As one of the nation's largest and most successful drug rehabilitation and education programs, Narconon Arrowhead continues to grow and create positive effects.  Whether it's educating young and old alike throughout the country with massive awareness and prevention campaigns, working with officials in the U.S. and other countries or helping individuals and families overcome addiction, Narconon Arrowhead continues to impact millions of lives every year.

Narconon Arrowhead uses the drug-free rehabilitation methodology developed by American author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard.  The residential treatment center serves people from all over the country and is certified by the state department of mental health and substance abuse services and is also accredited by the prestigious Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission (CARF).  The program is in high demand simply because it gets results.

With effective programs like Narconon Arrowhead, the cost of alcohol and drug addiction can significantly be reduced in America.  For more information or to get help, contact Narconon Arrowhead today by calling 1-800-468-6933 or visit www.stopaddiction.com for your free assessment and consultation.

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