The topics of drug misuse and abuse are anchored by the terms used to define or describe them. Using current economic strain-type terminology, the annual economic cost of “drug abuse” has been estimated to be approximately $600 billion worldwide and $200 billion in the United States (Sussman & Ames, 2001). Approximately 70% of the costs are related to decreased productivity (illness, premature death, and incarceration), 10% are due to the costs related to health care (prevention, treatment, and hospitalization), and 20% of the costs are related to property damage and enforcement efforts (Office of National Drug Control Policy, 2001; Sussman & Ames, 2001).

Misuse of drugs by the general public incurs a notable percentage of these costs. For many people, drug misuse appears to be a voluntary, social behavior. There are people who feel reasonably comfortable with themselves and their lives but may misuse some drugs (particularly alcohol and tobacco but also other drugs, such as over-the-counter medications) on occasion as a part of celebratory rituals or to relieve disease symptoms. These people may have succumbed to social pressures to celebrate or may lack information on how to use a drug or drugs correctly, which could lead to negative consequences.

The misuse of drugs can lead to accidents and brief periods of nonproductivity. The probability of anyone suffering an accident that causes potential injury (usually minor) nears 100% over the course of many years.