The destructive nature of alcohol and drug abuse results in a hefty price tag. It presents a significant economic cost that is placed on Missouri families, businesses, communities, and government. People will have different views regarding morals, character and retribution directed at the individual who develops an addiction. The bottom line, however, is that an untreated substance abuser is more expensive to society than the cost of getting the abuser into treatment and preventing the non-user from initiating use.

“The Burden of Substance Abuse on the State of Missouri”
– Department of Mental Health (2008)