Costs associated with marijuana use are typically indirect and affect fewer demographics than alcohol. However, the societal costs of marijuana use in Region 9 are still large, and can be broken down into rehabilitation and/or treatment, dropout rates, and law enforcement.
According to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services, over 10% of adults beyond the age of 20 in Region 9 admitted into rehabilitation and/or treatment were admitted because of marijuana abuse. Using data from the 2011 Nationwide In-Patient Sampling, the 135 adults admitted into rehabilitation and/or treatment for marijuana abuse cost Region 9 an average of $1,105,245.[i]
For youth in Region 9, 87% of those admitted into rehabilitation and/or treatment were admitted for marijuana abuse according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Using data from the 2011 Nationwide In-Patient Sampling, the 122 youths admitted into rehabilitation and/or treatment for marijuana abuse cost Region 9 an average of $998,814.[ii]
By Kevin Thompson
Regional Evaluator Region 9 Prevention Resource Center
kthompson@pbrcada.org
[i] Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 2011 State Inpatient Databases and Costs, June 2016.
[ii] Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 2011 State Inpatient Databases and Costs, June 2016.
[iii] McCaffrey DF, Pacula RL, Han B, Ellickson P, Marijuana Use and High School Dropouts, National Institute of Health, November 2010, June 2016.
[iv] Center for Labor Market Studies, Northeastern University, The Fiscal Economic Consequences of Dropping Out of High School, 2009, February 2016.
[v] Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, Fact Sheet, April 2016.
Published August 10, 2016.