Drugs in Us

Usage of Illegal drugs costs the United States (U.S) economy more than $193 billion in 2007, according to the study, The Economic Impact of Illicit Drug Use in American Society by National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC). The usage of these illicit drugs in U.S has been increasing at an alarming rate and hurting the U.S economy at large. The cost drivers attributable to the illegal drugs are estimated in the three major areas: crime, health and productivity.

The cost associated with crime includes; criminal interrogation, intelligence production, interdiction, social nation assistance, research and development. For example, spending taxpayers' money to research new methods for impediment of illegal drugs to the public. Government needs to spend money to protect the community.

In the health area, the cost is due to heart diseases, cancer, ulcer, treat the cases with homicide and other health related problem due to the drug usage. For example, people abuse the drugs which lead to nausea, vomiting, loss of balance, visual disturbance or sometime internal bleeding as well. These factors increases the government spending on health budget.

At last, cost associated with the productivity includes the labor force participation rate. For instance, employees are not productive and efficient as a result of drug usage. Nowadays, most companies have a policy and procedure to conduct an unannounced drug-test which may result in job termination. Also, it raises the unemployment and is detrimental the economy at micro and macro economic level.

In conclusion, in order to discourage the usage of illicit drug, government needs to spend money to aware public about the side-effects of illlegal drugs usage. This activity is signifcant for any country as it may help in reducing unemployment, health impairment and criminal acitivties. The usage cost includes crime, health and productivity which has been increasing at alarming rate and government needs to develop, monitor and...