Brief Description
There are a variety of sources of information NIDA uses to monitor the prevalence and trends regarding drug abuse in the United States. The resources below cover a variety of drug related issues, including information on drug usage, emergency room data, prevention and treatment programs, and other research findings.
Costs of Substance Abuse
Abuse of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs is costly to our Nation, exacting over $600 billion annually in costs related to crime, lost work productivity and healthcare.**
| Health Care | Overall | |
|---|---|---|
| Tobacco | $96 billion | $193 billion |
| Alcohol | $30 billion | $235 billion |
| Illicit Drugs | $11 billion | $193 billion |
Monitoring the Future Survey (MTF)
Results from a yearly survey of teenagers conducted by the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research and funded by NIDA. (Survey results, updated each autumn.) View survey results and MTF publications.
Infographics
Featured Publications
Related Resources
- Drug Abuse Data from the Community Epidemiology Work Group - Provides current descriptive and analytical information regarding the nature and patterns of drug abuse, emerging trends, characteristics of vulnerable populations and social and health consequences
- Economic Costs of Drug Abuse in the United States, 1992-2002 (PDF, 2.4MB) - Detailed description by the Office of National Drug Control Policy of the societal costs of drug abuse
- Monitoring the Future Survey - Study funded by NIDA and performed by the University of Michigan
- Youth Risk Behavior Survey - Study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- National Survey on Drug Use and Health - Study conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Sources:
** Costs:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5745a3.htm
- Rehm J, Mathers C, Popova S, Thavorncharoensap M, Teerawattananon Y, Patra J. Global burden of disease and injury and economic cost attributable to alcohol use and alcohol-use disorders. Lancet. 2009 Jun 27;373(9682):2223-33
- National Drug Intelligence Center (2010). National Threat Assessment: The Economic Impact of Illicit Drug Use on American Society. Washington, DC: United States Department of Justice.
Featured Publication
Drugs, Brains, and Behavior - The Science of Addiction
As a result of scientific research, we know that addiction is a disease that affects both brain and behavior.