Community Cycle of AddictionThe Largest Preventable & Most Costly Health Problem in the

United States

20% of all US Deaths Attributable to Drug

Use

>10% get help

Our fastest growing problem

Addiction

Impact on Families

Impact on Communitie

s

Impact on Taxpayers

Impact on

Individuals

Community Cycle of AddictionThe Largest Preventable & Most Costly Health Problem in the

United States

Addiction Epidemic

• Alcohol Deaths up 40% (<90,000/year)

• Opioid Deaths Quadrupled

• Heroin Deaths Tripled

• Killing in Every Demographic

Community Cycle of AddictionThe Largest Preventable & Most Costly Health Problem in the

United States

Impact on Individuals• Decreases quality of life, health and life

expectancy

• Abuse of one drug increases chances of abusing other drugs

• Increases unemployment, divorce and suicide rates

• Killing in Every Demographic• Fastest growing group of heroin deaths:

Under 21, suburban and rural, middle to upper class

• Fastest growing group of drug and alcohol deaths: Women

Community Cycle of AddictionThe Largest Preventable & Most Costly Health Problem in the

United States

Impact on Families

• Places incredible stress on family structure

• Increases child abuse and domestic violence

• Increases percentage of children having health, education, relationship and drug issues

• Financial costs include:• Missed work, unemployment, avoidable

errors• Legal fees, treatment costs, insurance• Money spent on drug of choice• Missed economic opportunities

Community Cycle of AddictionThe Largest Preventable & Most Costly Health Problem in the

United States

Impact on Communitie

s

Community Quality of

Life

Hospitals

Jails

Community Cycle of AddictionThe Largest Preventable & Most Costly Health Problem in the

United States

Impact on Hospitals• 1/3 of all inpatient hospital costs are related to

substance abuse

• 25% of all hospital Medicaid spending involves substance abuse

• Average in-patient stay is 5 days and costs <$10,000(does not include major procedures, ambulance fees or other charges)

• Average emergency room visit <$1500

Community Cycle of AddictionThe Largest Preventable & Most Costly Health Problem in the

United States

Impact on Jails

• 85% of incarcerations are related to substance abuse

• 65% of all inmates have a history of substance abuse

• Local communities spent <$22.2 billion on jails in 2011

• Cost of a night in jail ranges from $85 to $185

Community Cycle of AddictionThe Largest Preventable & Most Costly Health Problem in the

United States

Impact on CommunityQuality of Life

• Increases crime and homelessness

• Increases demands on taxpayers’ resources

• Decreases property values

• Reduces economic opportunities/employment

Community Cycle of AddictionThe Largest Preventable & Most Costly Health Problem in the

United States

Impact on Taxpayers

• Taxpayers spend <$500 billion per year on addiction (<$1500 per person)

• Only 2 cents per dollar is spent on prevention and treatment • Remainder is spent dealing with consequences

Community Cycle of AddictionThe Largest Preventable & Most Costly Health Problem in the

United States

20% of all US Deaths Attributable to Drug

Use

>10% get help

Our fastest growing problem

Addiction

Impact on Families

Impact on Communitie

s

Impact on Taxpayers

Impact on

Individuals