If you struggle with substance use disorder (SUD), you may think it only affects you and the people close to you. However, the incidence of substance abuse has huge impacts on the economy as a whole. When you understand the financial effects of addiction, you will be able to see how it affects the lives of everyone in society.
The Economic Impact of Substance Abuse
Throughout society, the increasing rate of SUD has major impacts on our workplaces and other businesses. After all, individuals in the workplace who are struggling with SUD tend to be unable to function at their highest level of productivity, especially compared to other employees. The rates of absences and accidents within the workplace are also increased for employees who have SUD.
Financial Strain for Taxpayers
The devastating results of a combination of illicit drug use, prescription drug abuse, alcohol, and tobacco have led to a cost of $740 billion to our government, which increases the burden on taxpayers. Tobacco is the leading factor in this number due to the high rates of addiction to that substance.
These financial losses are caused by a lack of productivity in the workplace as well as increased healthcare and criminal justice costs.
Lost Productivity
Alcohol and tobacco are large problems within the work industry. Many individuals who are addicted to nicotine require smoke breaks throughout their workday, typically during company time. This lack of productivity during smoke breaks adds up to significant amounts of time. Additionally, coming to work after smoking or consuming alcohol can slow down an individual’s ability to succeed in their position.
Smoke breaks can also lead to tension in coworker relationships. If an individual is consistently taking breaks to smoke or lacking in performance due to SUD, their coworkers may become frustrated. It can seem especially unfair when the individual whose work is hindered by substance use is getting the same wages as their coworkers whose work is unhindered. Some of them may decide to follow the example and let their own productivity decline, which leads to an even higher cost to employers.
Increased Healthcare Costs
Healthcare visits pertaining to SUD are continually on the rise, as are emergency medical services needed to treat overdoses. Approximately 10% of hospital inpatient encounters in America involved a patient with SUD. Considering the financial compensation required to care for these individuals, this level of hospital admittance is excessive. Emergencies related to substance abuse also take up emergency room resources for other potential accidents.
The cost of inpatient and outpatient therapy for those with SUD is considerable, but there are usually even greater medical costs for those who refuse to get help and continue to develop severe health issues from substance use. After all, many long-term health problems develop from untreated SUD. This can lead to overcrowding in the healthcare systems.
The leading causes of the economic burden that addiction has on our healthcare system are alcohol and opioid abuse. The abuse of prescription drugs is another big concern for communities. When people abuse prescription drugs, they may be making it more difficult for people who actually need these prescriptions to access them.
The Burden on the Criminal Justice System
Individuals who struggle with SUD tend to have an increased risk of engagement with criminal activities. These activities include drug-related offenses as well as other criminal actions that may be done under the influence of substances.
Incarceration rates are increased from SUD, which can cause prison overcrowding. This takes a large financial toll on our criminal justice system and takes away from funding to ensure the safety of our communities.
How Does This Affect Me?
The financial consequences of substance abuse affect the economy as a whole. Though the economy may seem like an abstract system, it directly influences everyone who participates in it.
For example, the money we pay in taxes to better our community is a significant expense that affects each citizen who earns an income. If taxpayer money is going toward controlling the damage done by substance use, it is less able to pay for other necessities and innovations that can make our society better. SUD also affects the workplace environment, causing challenges for those who engage in substance abuse as well as the people who work with them.
What Can We Do About It?
If you have SUD, seeking treatment will benefit you and your community. Ending your addiction can help you operate at your full potential and help you build your career. It can ease the strain on your community’s healthcare professionals, decrease your chances of developing serious health issues, and free more resources for other people who may need them. Since substance abuse can quickly lead people into legally risky actions, quitting substance use can even make you safer.
If you do not have SUD, you can spread awareness of this issue. Supporting programs that spread awareness can lower the rates of addiction and ease the burdens on our work environments, healthcare systems, and criminal justice system. You can also encourage the people in your life who may be struggling with SUD to reach out for the help they need. These actions can help create a safer, healthier, and wealthier society.
Substance abuse has major effects on the economy. These effects often go unnoticed as they take a significant toll on the business, healthcare, and criminal justice environments. The financial cost of substance abuse in America has reached approximately $740 billion and will likely continue to escalate. Observing this number, you can see how drastic the consequences of substance abuse are on our economy. The negative effects on productivity levels in the workplace from substance abuse are how a large part of this financial burden is accumulated. Working together as a society to spread awareness on these issues can help those struggling with SUD to get the help they need and ease the negative economic effects of substance abuse on the community. To learn more about the financial effects of substance abuse, reach out to Dream Recovery today at (949) 732-1960.