Addiction Costs the U.S. $93B in Lost Productivity

Startling New Data on Addiction and Work

Using data from 2023 and a human capital approach, they found a staggering $92.65 billion loss in productivity due to health conditions and functional impairments related to SUD. This works out to $3,703 per adult experiencing addiction.

This estimated cost of addiction in the U.S. is higher than similar studies because it considered all types of substance use disorder instead of focusing only on particulars like opioids or prescription medications. 

How Addiction Drives Productivity Losses

The study broke down its figures further to understand how SUD shows up in our overall productivity. They found that nearly half of the productivity losses ($45.25 billion) were caused by the inability to work.

The next highest contributor was absenteeism, coming in at a cost of $25.65 billion. Absenteeism is when an employee doesn’t show up for work and doesn’t provide a valid reason for missing a day.

Presenteeism is the loss of productivity caused when an employee is present at work but not able to function regularly. It accounted for a cost of $12.06 billion. 

Absenteeism related to substance misuse was most prevalent among teens and young adults between the ages of 18 and 25, which is supported by current studies finding that more than two million college students report using an illicit substance within the last month. 

There’s also evidence that addiction isn’t just contributing to productivity losses at work. It’s also impacting people’s ability to function at home. In practice, a loss of household productivity means a person is unable to cook, clean or look after their household. This accounted for a loss of $9.68 billion. 

The True Cost of Addiction in the U.S.

These productivity losses are just one piece of a much larger financial burden. According to the Rehab.com Drug Use Statistics Report, substance use disorder and addiction now cost U.S. taxpayers nearly $250 per person each year, driven by healthcare, criminal justice, lost work, and long term disability.

When addiction goes untreated, it doesn’t just harm individuals, it places enormous strain on employers, families, and the healthcare system.

Treatment Makes Economic Sense

Research consistently shows that evidence based addiction treatment including detox, inpatient and outpatient rehab, therapy and medication assisted treatment (MAT) reduces relapse, improves employment outcomes and lowers long term healthcare costs.

Helping people get into treatment isn’t just a moral issue. It’s an economic one.

Find Help Today

If drugs or alcohol are affecting your health, family, or career, recovery is possible. Explore top rated rehab centers near you, compare programs, or call 800-985-8516 ( Sponsored Helpline ) today for personalized support.