Societal Costs of Prescription Opioid Abuse, Dependence, and Misuse in the United Sta

Abstract

Objectives.  The objective of this study was to estimate the societal costs of prescription opioid abuse, dependence, and misuse in the United States.

Methods.  Costs were grouped into three categories: health care, workplace, and criminal justice. Costs were estimated by 1) quantity method, which multiplies the number of opioid abuse patients by cost per opioid abuse patient; and 2) apportionment method, which begins with overall costs of drug abuse per component and apportions the share associated with prescription opioid abuse based on relative prevalence of prescription opioid to overall drug abuse. Excess health care costs per patient were based on claims data analysis of privately insured and Medicaid beneficiaries. Other data/information were derived from publicly available survey and other secondary sources.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1526-4637.2011.01075.x/abstract

So how much is the war on drugs, prescription drug abuse costing us? Where do you decide where to start?

Sincerely,

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nursefriendly, Inc. A New Jersey Corporation.
38 Tattersall Drive, Mantua New Jersey 08051
http://www.nursefriendly.com info@nursefriendly.com ICQ #6116137
856-415-9617, (fax) 415-9618

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Why wage a war. That costs far to much. Actually it is far cheaper to Legalize, Educate, Medicate, Treat. Than it does to wage war on drugs. Treat the disease.

Because most of the drugs they are battling to keep out of the country would destroy it, if legalized.

Would you want your children, or parents doing crack, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, etc in your home "safe and supervised" just so the government could charge taxes on it?

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nursefriendly, Inc. A New Jersey Corporation.
38 Tattersall Drive, Mantua New Jersey 08051
http://www.nursefriendly.com info@nursefriendly.com ICQ #6116137
856-415-9617, (fax) 415-9618

Let's Connect! http://www.nursefriendly.com/social/

Interesting Note: methamphetamine was developed by American Scientists during WWII and fed to pilots so they could stay alert to fly longer missions: When they mustered out they were not detoxed but just sent home where many displayed agression, depression, and psychosis. The US military had no idea what the long term consequences of their little pick-me-up would be.

A tiger in the zoo might be interesting, even entertaining but no fun at all when it gets loose.

H

nursinghumor wrote:Because most of the drugs they are battling to keep out of the country would destroy it, if legalized.

Would you want your children, or parents doing crack, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, etc in your home "safe and supervised" just so the government could charge taxes on it?

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nursefriendly, Inc. A New Jersey Corporation.
38 Tattersall Drive, Mantua New Jersey 08051
http://www.nursefriendly.com info@nursefriendly.com ICQ #6116137
856-415-9617, (fax) 415-9618

Let's Connect! http://www.nursefriendly.com/social/

That does not sound that humorous. However, and there is always a however. They are already doing it. So rather than, spending billions annually combating it. Lets try, education, regulation, and treatment of the problem. If we stopped prohibition, then we would easily be able to provide treatment. We could also cut the amount of prisoners in jail almost 50%, saving even more money. Look at all the money that could be saved and free up court time for more important issues. If legalized. We would in one blow, take away the financial power of the Mexican Drug Cartels that are murdering so many people. If they have no money they would not be able to buy firearms and munitions. Thus simply and effectively taking away their POWER.
If you look at countries, Portugal, Holland. Decriminalization has led to a decrease in drug use and in drug related crimes. And that is with just the decriminalization of just Marijuana.