COSTS OF ABUSE

Dear Editor:

Substance abuse does not just affect the user.

Recent studies about substance abuse in Canada showed that alcohol,
tobacco, and illegal drug use costs a total of $40 billion a year
with roughly 20 per cent of all health care patients entering
hospitals with sicknesses from tobacco, alcohol and illegal drugs.

This is a definite problem for the economy and can be solved with the
participation of the public and government.

The government should be providing the public with prevention and
education programs regarding these substances. Further more,
substance abusers should be acknowledge the staggering statistics and
be motivated to live a healthier life.

Simon Dignard

Mississauga