Delfine Lievens1, Freya Vander Laenen2, Nick Verhaeghe3, Koen Putman4, Lieven Pauwels1, Wim Hardyns1, Lieven Annemans3. 1. Ghent University, Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy, Belgium; Ghent University, Department of Criminology, Penal Law and Social Law, Universiteitstraat 4, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. 2. Ghent University, Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy, Belgium; Ghent University, Department of Criminology, Penal Law and Social Law, Universiteitstraat 4, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: FREYA.VANDERLAENEN@UGENT.BE. 3. Ghent University, Department of Public Health, Belgium. 4. Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Medical Sociology, Belgium.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Legal and illegal drugs impose a considerable burden to the individual and to society. The misuse of addictive substances results in healthcare and law enforcement costs, loss of productivity and reduced quality of life. METHODS: A social cost study was conducted to estimate the substance-attributable costs of alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs and psychoactive medication to Belgian society in 2012. The cost-of-illness framework with prevalence-based and human capital approach was applied. Three cost components were considered: direct, indirect and intangible costs related to substance misuse. RESULTS: The direct and indirect cost of addictive substances was estimated at 4.6 billion euros in Belgium (419 euros per capita or 1.19% of the GDP) and more than 515,000 healthy years are lost due to substance misuse. The Belgian social cost study reaffirms that alcohol and tobacco impose the highest cost to society compared to illegal drugs. Health problems are the main driver of the social cost of legal drugs. Law enforcement expenditure exceed the healthcare costs but only in the case of illegal drugs. CONCLUSION: Estimating social costs of addictive substances is complex because it is difficult to determine to what extent the societal harm is caused by substances. It can be argued that social cost studies take only a 'snapshot' of the monetary consequences of substance misuse. Nevertheless, the current study offers the most comprehensive analysis thus far of the social costs of substance misuse in Belgium.
BACKGROUND: Legal and illegal drugs impose a considerable burden to the individual and to society. The misuse of addictive substances results in healthcare and law enforcement costs, loss of productivity and reduced quality of life. METHODS: A social cost study was conducted to estimate the substance-attributable costs of alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs and psychoactive medication to Belgian society in 2012. The cost-of-illness framework with prevalence-based and human capital approach was applied. Three cost components were considered: direct, indirect and intangible costs related to substance misuse. RESULTS: The direct and indirect cost of addictive substances was estimated at 4.6 billion euros in Belgium (419 euros per capita or 1.19% of the GDP) and more than 515,000 healthy years are lost due to substance misuse. The Belgian social cost study reaffirms that alcohol and tobacco impose the highest cost to society compared to illegal drugs. Health problems are the main driver of the social cost of legal drugs. Law enforcement expenditure exceed the healthcare costs but only in the case of illegal drugs. CONCLUSION: Estimating social costs of addictive substances is complex because it is difficult to determine to what extent the societal harm is caused by substances. It can be argued that social cost studies take only a 'snapshot' of the monetary consequences of substance misuse. Nevertheless, the current study offers the most comprehensive analysis thus far of the social costs of substance misuse in Belgium.
Authors: Robert Tholen; Edwin Wouters; Koen Ponnet; Sara De Bruyn; Guido Van Hal Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-11-09 Impact factor: 3.390