AHS Views

A study was done in the U.K. about the costs of drug addiction. The estimate was about $1.5 million per addict. This includes several things including health care and the cost of drug-related crime. They also figured out that the costs would be reduced to about $70,000 if people got drug addiction help before the age of 21.

It’s hard to say how close these figures come to what is spent in the U.S. but one thing we know is the same is that the earlier people get drug addiction help, the better their chances of actually recovering rather than living their out the rest of their lives on one drug or another. This mean you have to catch it while kids are still college-aged - whether they’re actually in school or not.

In fact, if your kids are using drugs, or alcohol to an excess, it’s a good idea to make sure they get help before they go to college. The temptation in college is great: Not only are illegal drugs easy to get, there are tons of college kids taking prescription drugs that make the rounds. Some use them for study aids, and others take them to get high.

What the U.K. estimates may not have taken into account is the ruined lives and families. If your kids are currently taking drugs, you already have some idea of how devastating it can be for parents. Get them the addiction help services they need now - don’t wait. If you don’t know where to turn, contact a referral agency that has experts on hand to help you figure out a solution.