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. 2001 Jan 1;61(2):195-206.
doi: 10.1016/s0376-8716(00)00162-9.

The economic costs of heroin addiction in the United States

T L Mark  1 , G E Woody, T Juday, H D Kleber
Affiliations

The economic costs of heroin addiction in the United States

T L Mark et al. Drug Alcohol Depend. .

Abstract

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.

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