What is the real cost of substance abuse in Maine?
According to a report by the Maine Office of Substance Abuse, in 2005, the cost of substance abuse in Maine was $898 million or $682 for every Maine resident.
These costs include:
- Crime (23.9%)
- Premature death (22.7%)
- Medical care (20.8%)
- Illness (17.3%)
- Substance abuse treatment (2.8%)
- Other costs (12.5%) such as social welfare, damage related to fires, and non-medical costs of motor vehicle crashes.
Breakdown of every $1 spent on Substance Abuse in Maine:
- Less than 1 cent is spent on prevention.
- Less than 1 cent is spent on treatment.
- Less than 1 cent is spent on regulation.
- The remaining 99 cents are spent on public programs that clean up the consequences of substance abuse.