fbpx
Skip to content

TH: +66 20 385 469     Toll Free USA/CAN: 1 888 806 6776     Toll Free UK: 0 808 189 0393     Toll Free AUS: 1 800 251 994     HK: +852 3008 5841     SG: +65 3158 7621

  • Home
  • What We Treat
    • Addiction
      • Alcohol Addiction Treatment
      • Drug Addiction Treatment
      • Amphetamine Addiction Treatment
      • Cocaine Addiction Treatment
      • GHB Addiction Treatment
      • Heroin Addiction Treatment
      • Ecstasy Addiction Treatment
      • Marijuana Addiction Treatment
      • Methamphetamine Addiction Treatment
    • Mental Health
      • Anxiety disorder treatment programme
      • Depression treatment programme
      • Co-treating Addiction and Trauma Disorders
      • Dual Diagnosis/Co-Occurring Disorders
    • Behavioral Addiction
      • Co-Occurring Disordered Eating Treatment
      • Internet Addiction Treatment
      • Rehab for Gambling Addiction Treatment
  • Our Programme
    • Changing Pathways Addiction Programme
      • Physical Therapy
    • The Kintsugi Programme
    • Disordered Eating Programme
    • Continuing Care
    • Recovery House at The Cabin
    • Sunday Excursions
  • About Our Rehab
    • About the Cabin
    • Accommodation and Facilities
    • Gallery
    • The Cabin Group
    • Our Team
    • Client Testimonials
    • In The Press
    • Blogs
  • Admissions
    • Admissions Process
    • How Rehab Works at The Cabin
    • Online assessment
    • FAQ
    • Family Advice
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Careers
    • Referring a Client

Get Help Now
09/04/2012

The Impacts of Substance Addictions on Society

Home › Blog › Alcohol Addiction Treatment › The Impacts of Substance Addictions on Society

The impacts of substance addictions on society

Substance addiction has a severe impact not only on the individual, but those closest to them, and society as a whole. In the United States alone, substance addictions cost the government over 200 billion USD each year. These costs can be attributed to crime, disease, accidents, domestic violence, abuse, job loss, and homelessness. It is said that substance use causes one in four deaths and results in numerous economic and social consequences.

A substance addiction deteriorates an individual’s physical and mental well being. Many times, an individual will lose their job and their family, resulting in sustaining support from society.

Society Impact 1: Loss of Family

Families of those caught in the downward spiral of addiction go through a lot. Oftentimes, they are subjected to domestic violence, abuse, and financial struggles. Children in this type of environment are at risk for begin removed from the home and placed into state custody. The cost of putting children into state custody is approximately 1 billion USD each year.

Society Impact 2: Over packed Institutions

Public health systems are extremely overworked. In 2008, 15% of all patients admitted to hospitals had a substance addiction. Nearly 25% of money spent by Medicare is on inpatient treatment that is directly related to substance addiction.

Around 80% of prisoners incarcerated since 1985 are there because of a drug related offence. This is causing the prisons in the United States to be overpopulated. Inside the prison, 70% of inmates are involved in regular substance abuse.

Society Impact 3: Crime

A large amount of crime can be attributed to substance addictions. This is because many addicts are trying to obtain money to purchase their substance of choice. When a purchase goes wrong they will need more money and violence normally occurs during these situations. Half of all the individuals arrested for a serious crime, such as, murder, robbery, and assault, were under the influence of an addictive, and usually illegal, substance. Society then must pick up the cost for the law enforcement, court, and incarceration.

Society Impact 4: Public Welfare

Many substance offenders are on probation or parole. Others are involved in a specialized justice program, social work, or vocational rehabilitation. These are all necessary to re-integrate individuals back into society; however, unless private, all of these programs are covered by society.

Society Impact 5: Public Impairment

It is well known that truck drivers, public transportation drivers, and even medical personnel have substance addictions. There have been several accidents that are the fault of a driver who was under the influence at the time of incident. This not only causes injuries and fatalities, but also huge damage costs. Many doctors that are accused of malpractice also have a substance addiction.

Social Impact 6: Environment

The environmental impact of substances is mainly the result of outdoor marijuana cultivation and methamphetamine production. The chemicals that are used to produce meth are flammable and hazardous. Many times, these chemicals are stored improperly, causing fire and explosions at labs.

The process used to make meth creates between 5 and 7 pounds of waste per pound of meth; this waste is typically discarded into streams, forests, and the sewers. It costs approximately 3,500-5,000 USD to clean up one meth lab or dumpsite. In 2009, 232 sites were cleaned up in California alone.

Outdoor marijuana cultivation, especially on public land, is another environmental impact that is causing concern. Cultivators often dam streams and redirect the water through plastic, gravity fed irrigation systems in order to water the plants. Because there I a high demand for this water, streams become strained and the vegetation that is dependent upon it becomes damaged. Additionally, more dumpsites are being discovered with highly toxic insecticides, repellants, and poisons that are being produced in Mexico. These products, usually illegal to use in the US, are being smuggled in through Mexico because they are cheaper. They are contaminating the ground water and watersheds, as well as killing local wildlife. Overtime, these dangerous products enter the public drinking supply.

Drugs Impact All Societies

While these statistics are from the United States, it is safe to assume that countries throughout the world have similar impacts of society due to substance addictions.

Education Can and Will Help

While it is most likely too late to take these illegal substances completely out of the picture, responsible individuals can take the time to educate themselves and others about harmful, addictive substances. Education on the impacts that these substance have on the addict and society as a whole should be taught and understood.

Get A Free Consultation
Search

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Alcohol Addiction Treatment
  • Behavioral Addiction
  • Blog
  • Co-occurring Disorders
  • Cocaine Addiction
  • Drug Addiction
  • Food Addiction Treatment
  • Gambling Addiction Treatment
  • Gaming Addiction Treatment
  • Infographic
  • Infosheet
  • Internet Addiction Treatment
  • Prescription Drugs Addiction Treatment
  • Reach
  • Recovery
  • Relapse Prevention
  • Rise
  • Sex Addiction Treatment
  • Trauma and Addiction
  • Video
  • Youth Addiction Treatment
New-Year’s-Resolutions-for-Recovering-Addicts
Infosheet | Recovery

New Year’s Resolutions for Recovering Addicts

A new year brings new opportunities for change and growth. For many people – addicts included – this takes the form of New Year’s resolutions. However, we all know that many resolutions are never actually achieved. This year, make your resolutions for recovery attainable and geared towards making your life as a recovering addict easier....
12/29/2014
Adderall, Amphetamine and Methamphetamine
Blog

Adderall, Amphetamine and Methamphetamine – Are They the Same?

Did you know that Adderall is almost chemically identical to amphetamine and methamphetamine (ice)? Their similarities go beyond their chemical makeup — these powerful stimulants share some of the same side effects and are considered equally dangerous.  Learn more here. Sharelines Adderall vs meth: do you know the difference? The two are virtually identical. Adderall...
10/04/2016
Web Junkies - a Cause for Concern in China
Blog

Web Junkies – a Cause for Concern in China

New documentary “Web Junkies” is the first in-depth look at the internet culture phenomenon in China and how it is affecting youth, families, and the country as a whole. China is, at least for many outsiders, a place that is hard to understand. With little exposure to daily life in China, those who have not...
08/14/2014
The Cabin Logo

The Cabin Rehab Centre
9 Khua Mung, Saraphi District,
Chiang Mai, Thailand 50140

Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Linkedin

OUR TREATMENT

  • Alcohol Addiction Treatment
  • Drug Addiction Treatment
  • Disordered Eating Programme
  • Gambling Addiction Treatment
  • Changing Pathways
  • Kintsugi Programme
  • Sunday Excursions
  • Relapse Prevention

ABOUT THE CABIN

  • About Us
  • The Professional Team
  • Why The Cabin
  • Our Accommodation
  • Admissions Process
  • What is Our Client Say?
  • FAQ
  • The Cabin’s Blog
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms and Conditions

CONTACT US

TH: +66 20 385 469
USA/CAN: 1 888 806 6776
UK: 0 808 189 0393
AUS: 1 800 251 994
HK: +852 3008 5841
SG: +65 3158 7621
Download Our Brochure

© 2023 The Cabin Chiang Mai. All Rights Reserved.

Get Help Today!
Getting the Help You Need Today!

If you require further information, Please do not hesitate to contact us.

  • TH : +662 038 5469
  • US : +1 888 806 6776
  • UK : +44 808 189 0393
  • AU : +61 1 800 251 994
  • HK : +852 3008 5841
  • SG : +65 3158 7621
close
Manage Cookie Consent

To provide the best experiences, we and our partners use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us and our partners to process personal data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site and show (non-) personalized ads. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.

Click below to consent to the above or make granular choices. Your choices will be applied to this site only. You can change your settings at any time, including withdrawing your consent, by using the toggles on the Cookie Policy, or by clicking on the manage consent button at the bottom of the screen.

Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Statistics

Marketing

Features
Always active

Always active
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}
Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Statistics

Marketing

Features
Always active

Always active
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}
Scroll to top
  • Home
  • What We Treat
    • Addiction
      • Alcohol Addiction Treatment
      • Drug Addiction Treatment
      • Amphetamine Addiction Treatment
      • Cocaine Addiction Treatment
      • GHB Addiction Treatment
      • Heroin Addiction Treatment
      • Ecstasy Addiction Treatment
      • Marijuana Addiction Treatment
      • Methamphetamine Addiction Treatment
    • Mental Health
      • Anxiety disorder treatment programme
      • Depression treatment programme
      • Co-treating Addiction and Trauma Disorders
      • Dual Diagnosis/Co-Occurring Disorders
    • Behavioral Addiction
      • Co-Occurring Disordered Eating Treatment
      • Internet Addiction Treatment
      • Rehab for Gambling Addiction Treatment
  • Our Programme
    • Changing Pathways Addiction Programme
      • Physical Therapy
    • The Kintsugi Programme
    • Disordered Eating Programme
    • Continuing Care
    • Recovery House at The Cabin
    • Sunday Excursions
  • About Our Rehab
    • About the Cabin
    • Accommodation and Facilities
    • Gallery
    • The Cabin Group
    • Our Team
    • Client Testimonials
    • In The Press
    • Blogs
  • Admissions
    • Admissions Process
    • How Rehab Works at The Cabin
    • Online assessment
    • FAQ
    • Family Advice
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Careers
    • Referring a Client