SMOKES, DRINK, DRUGS COST $34B

SYDNEY - SMOKING, alcohol misuse and drug abuse cost more than $34 billion
in 1998-99, according to national figures released at a substance abuse
symposium yesterday.

The figures were compiled from the most comprehensive analysis of the
social costs of drug abuse undertaken in Australia, including for the first
time crime, absenteeism, ambulances and fires.

Costs of health care, labour and road accidents were also taken into account.

Tobacco made up the lion's share of the economic burden ($21 billion) or 60
per cent of the total costs.

Alcohol ($7.6 billion) accounted for 22 per cent of the total cost and
illicit drugs ($6.1 billion) for 19 per cent.

The analysis was presented in Fremantle at the International Research
Symposium on Preventing Substance Abuse by David Collins, Professor of
Economics at Sydney's Macquarie University.

"The first key finding is that by far the most important drug in terms of
economic cost is tobacco," Professor Collins said.

The report also highlighted how the main burden of drug abuse was borne
primarily by individuals and business.

Governments bore only 24 per cent of alcohol-related costs, 11 per cent of
the cost for tobacco and 33 per cent for illicit drugs.

At the same time, revenue from alcohol tax exceeded costs to the government
sector by $1.7 billion with a $2.8 billion profit from tobacco in 1998-99.

"It's not just individuals and government - quite a high proportion of
these costs are borne by business," Professor Collins said.

"The revenue that governments receive from alcohol and tobacco exceeds the
costs that governments themselves bear, not that the community as a whole bear.

"So governments may make a profit out of drug abuse and yet the community
as a whole is much worse off."

Crime attributed to alcohol cost $1.7 billion and crime attributable to
illicit drugs came to $3 billion.

All drugs cost almost $8 million in lost productivity. Sixty-four per cent
of this was due to tobacco, 22.5 per cent to alcohol and 13 per cent to
illicit drugs.

"The most straightforward example is when people go outside the building
and have a puff when they're working," Professor Collins said.

Alcohol-attributable road accidents cost $3.4 billion and drug attributable
costs were $523 million.

AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS