Treatment for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse: Opportunities for Coordination (Tap 11)

The abuse of alcohol and other drugs (Aod) is undeniably linked with economic and personal adversities for both individuals and society. It is estimated that the annual national cost of substance abuse is more than $144 billion. This includes related health and mental health care, social welfare, victim's losses, unemployment and lost productivity, and criminal justice system costs. The immeasurable human suffering caused by chemical dependency is equally disturbing. Family dysfunction and violence, children affected by alcohol or other drugs before birth, homelessness and poverty, accidents, homicides, suicides, and crime are often rooted in the abuse of alcohol and other drugs.