“According to a study released in March by the McDowell Group that seeks to quantify the economic costs of the crisis, the toll of drug abuse in Alaska totaled $1.2 billion in 2015 when measured in traffic collisions, health care, criminal justice and protective services, and public assistance.
The biggest tally of economic loss, according to the McDowell Group study, was $542 million in lost workforce productivity. Drug abuse results in lost productivity when it prevents people from being employed or performing household tasks such as childcare.
Retail property crimes carry an economic impact not often talked about. Adams said when stores experience what’s called inventory “shrinkage” through theft of high-priced items, they pass those costs to their customers.”
Read more at: http://alaskajournal.com/2017-10-18/opioid-epidemic-costs-alaska-topped-1-billion-2015#.WelRhYzR-Uk
Source: AlaskaJournal.com – October 18, 2017
