Illicit Drug Abuse in Los Angeles County (LAC): Indicators of Harm and Associated Economic Costs

Objectives: The study aims (a)to describe the causal relationship between illicit drug abuse and its adverse consequences and (b)to assess its associated economic and social burdens. Methods: Using global measures of drug abuse burden and the methodology of published national economic studies, we identified the core indicators of drug-related harms in the areas of health care, crime, and lost productivity. In health care, we examined the cost of community-based specialty treatment, drug-related hospitalization and ED visits, medical consequences of drug abuse and their unit costs. Cost estimation for drug-related crime was made in the areas of law enforcement, legal and adjudication, custody and supervision. Likewise, economic values were assigned to calculate lost productivity resulting from drug-related illnesses, premature death, crime victimization, hospitalization, and incarceration. Results: Preliminary results indicate that the overall economic cost of illicit drug abuse in Los Angeles County was approximately $7.3 billion. The proportion of LAC drug abuse cost in relation to alcohol abuse, at $10.8 billion, approximates national and some states estimates. The $7.3 billion represents approximately 1.4% of the gross County product of Los Angeles and carries an economic burden of $2,233 per household and $723 per resident. Conclusions: Illicit drug abuse impacts the utilization of health care resources; causes injury, illnesses, disability and death; creates public safety problem; and loss of potential earnings. The study demonstrates the need to promote public health policy development geared to minimize the societal harms and associated costs of illicit drug abuse.