Recession Increases Meth Risks

The current economic downturn is driving many people into the depths of drug addiction, especially methamphetamines. According to a recent report by MSNBC, this problem is in turn costing taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars every year.

According to a recent study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, substance abuse and addiction costs federal, state and local governments at least $467 billion annually, with only a fraction of that amount going towards drug treatment and rehabilitation.

Drugs like crystal meth are a particular threat during the recession, experts say, because it is cheap and relatively easy to produce or obtain. However, the cost of getting treatment at an addiction center is still high and many government-run programs have seen their budgets slashed thanks to the economic downturn.