TOBACCO MOST EXPENSIVE DRUG

Overall, The Costs of Substance Abuse in Canada estimates that booze,
drugs and tobacco cost Canadians about $39.8 billion in 2002. That's
40 times the amount of money the Government of Nunavut spends each
year.

That adds up to $1,267 per person:

* tobacco cost the most, at $541 per person; * alcohol cost $463 per
person; * and illegal drugs cost $262 per person.

Out of the total costs to Canada:

* productivity losses made up 61 per cent of costs; * direct health
care costs made up 22 per cent of costs; * policing costs made up 14
per cent of costs; * and other costs made up the remaining 3 per cent.

Source: The Costs of Substance Abuse in Canada 2002, Highlights.