The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has released information
stating that the cost of drug abuse in our nation is nearly
$110 billion a year and that illicit drug abuse contributes
to many of the social ills plaguing society such as violent
crime, the spreading of AIDS, poverty, homelessness, teenage
pregnancy, school dropout rates, family violence and rising
healthcare costs.
94% of churches in America say
that addiction affects them, a loved one or a close friend.
Only 12% of churches in America have a program set up to
meet the need.
One in every four black men over
the age of 20 in the U.S. is in state or federal prison. The
goal of treatment for addicted offenders is twofold: to
return a productive individual, free of addictions, to
society and to reduce the expense of drug-related crime to
society.
CASA estimates that of the $38 billion spent on corrections
in 1996, more than $30 billion was spent incarcerating
individuals who had a history of drug and/or alcohol abuse,
were convicted of drug and/or alcohol violations,were using
drugs and/or alcohol at the time of their crimes, or had
committed their crimes to get money to buy drugs.
The average cost per year to incarcerate an inmate in the
U.S. is $20,674, the Federal average cost is $23,542
compared to treatment at a cost of $2,941.
One in every four Americans believes drug and alcohol
addiction is the nation's most serious health issue,
according to a new survey.
Research conducted by Roper ASE for the Council of Public
Relations Firms found 26.5% of Americans believe addiction
is the most serious health problem in America, placing the
problem ahead of heart disease, cancer and depression.
The human costs of addiction are measured in lost jobs,
broken families, and lost lives. In 2001, 5 million of the
6.1 million people needing treatment for an illicit drug
problem never got help.
Americans reportedly now spend around $10 billion a year on
adult entertainment, which is the same amount spent to
attend professional sporting events, buying music or going
to the movie theaters.
Big hotel chains such as the Hilton,Marriott,Hyatt, Sheraton
and Holiday Inn offer adult films or in-room pay-per-view
television systems and are purchased by 50% of their
registered guests which accounts for nearly 70% of their
in-room profits.
