Anchorage, Alaska, (January 24, 2020) The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (Trust) has released updated studies that examine the cost of substance misuse in Alaska. The Trust contracted with McDowell Group to prepare the two studies: The Economic Costs of Alcohol Misuse in Alaska, and The Economic Costs of Substance Misuse in Alaska. Both reports are now available on the Trust webpage.
While some data sources and economic modeling has changed since the last cost estimate, the updated studies indicate that the total economic cost of alcohol and drug misuse in Alaska has risen from $3.1 billion in 2016 to $3.45 billion in 2018, representing an 11% increase.
“We know that substance misuse comes with economic costs in addition to the very real impacts to the lives of individuals who experience substance use disorders,” said Mike Abbott, CEO of the Trust. “It is our intention that the data in these reports help better inform efforts to address substance misuse in Alaska, and ultimately improve outcomes for Trust beneficiaries.”
Part of the Trust’s mission is a commitment to educating the public and policymakers to promote understanding of beneficiaries and the services needed to support them. Each newly released study considers the costs associated with healthcare, the criminal justice system, lost or reduced workplace productivity, public assistance and social services, and a range of other impacts related to substance misuse.
The reports can be found on the Trust resources webpage:
- The Economic Costs of Drug Misuse in Alaska, 2019 Update
- The Economic Costs of Alcohol Misuse in Alaska, 2019 Update
- Summary of the Economic Costs of Substance Use Disorders in Alaska, 2019 Update
Contact:
Allison Biastock, Chief Communications Officer, 907.334.2531, allison.biastock@alaska.gov