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By Oluwafunmilayo Minett
When one thinks of an economy, the first definition that comes to mind would be how money is circulating in a country.
The economy impacts job opportunities, what is being produced, and how members of the nation are doing financially.
Essentially, every commodity sold feeds into some form of the economy, which then feeds into a national one.
Items that are sold and bought play a large role. For example, if a family splurges on electronics for Christmas, they would be contributing to the economy. If they went out to eat, they would also be contributing.
However, according to health researcher Lisa Lines, “The economic burden of addiction has seen significant increases over the years, with estimates indicating that substance abuse costs the United States over $740 billion annually, driven largely by alcohol, illicit drugs, and tobacco”.
The current opioid crisis continues to reinforce this point.
The money made from these addictive substances is fueling the nation financially. Likewise, the money made has caused countless deaths and is providing the nation with a sense of economic stability.
While it is true that society does need a constant exchange of items, there is an immeasurable amount of commodities that can replace the drug market. Data Bridge Market Research reported, “The global opioids drug market size was valued at USD $46.13 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD $56.30 billion by 2032.”
In addition to the drug market, there is money being made and costs associated with addiction such as medical care for the health consequences of substance abuse; criminal justice, such as enforcement of laws and costs of incarceration; social services for foster care for children of individuals addicted to opioids and other substances; employee absenteeism and lost productivity; and abuse-related deaths for lost earnings for individuals with addictions who die prematurely.
The point is clear. If the American populace essentially chooses to make these industries successful. Including addictive substances.
In other words, ruined and lost lives are fueling the economy.
It is not entirely possible to stop the drug industry altogether, but we can make other industries more successful so that the drug industry is barely contributing.
The vast majority of people who are being exploited by this industry are dealing with addiction. Their brain only has one priority: Get more of the opioid substance that fuels the addiction. Unless scientists can devise a way to end addiction all together, the only hope is to try and push the drug industry far away from the spotlight.
It is not plausible to make every drug free either, as that would open up far more opportunities for the rest of the population to experience addiction.
If America wants to stop this constant exploitation for financial gain, the best thing to do would be putting other industries ahead of the game. There is only so much money that can be circulated at once, so if we spend it elsewhere, we can start the wave of change that needs to be seen in society.
Of course, this is not an overnight effort. This is a job that requires us to stand united to see real impact.
This article was written as part of a program to educate youth and others about Alameda County’s opioid crisis, prevention and treatment options. The program is funded by the Alameda County Behavioral Health Department and the grant is administered by Three Valleys Community Foundation.
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