COST OF ADDICTION

The cost of illegal drugs to Canadians runs in the billions of
dollars, according to studies by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse.

In a report from 2002, the most recent comprehensive study of its
kind, analysis shows dope's impact on health care, law enforcement,
loss of workplace and home productivity resulting from premature
death or disability, carried a price tag of about $8.2 billion.

The report said the largest economic costs were $4.7 billion for lost
productivity due to illness and premature death, $2.3 billion for law
enforcement costs and more than $1.1 billion in direct health-care costs.

In Alberta alone, illegal drugs represented a $979 million hit on the
economy, costing each Albertan an estimated $314 that year.

Drugs accounted for 22.2% of substance abuse costs, compared with
37.3% associated with alcohol and 40.5% related to tobacco use, as
calculated by the centre.

Total cost of illegal drugs by province in 2002

B.C. $1.5 billion

Alberta $979 million

Saskatchewan $268.6 million

Manitoba $270 million

Ontario $2.92 billion

Quebec $1.62 billion

New Brunswick $264.4 million

Nova Scotia $200.2 million

P.E.I. $30.1 million

Newfoundland $126.8 million

Yukon Territory $12 million

Northwest Territories $21.5 million

Nunavut $15.1 million

Cost per capita by province in 2002

B.C. $364

Alberta $314

Saskatchewan $265

Manitoba $235

Ontario $242

Quebec $218

New Brunswick $349

Nova Scotia $212

P.E.I. $215

Newfoundland $239

Yukon Territory $400

Northwest Territories $520

Nunavut $526

* Figures are estimates, based on known law enforcement and health care costs