Investing in evidence-based substance use prevention programs reduces harm from substances to people, their families and communities and also decreases the costs of substance use-related harm to society.
20 years of research have compiled evidence that prevention can result in substantial cost savings. Analysis shows that prevention efforts have reported savings of $15 to 18 on every dollar spent on drug prevention…

Investing in evidence-based substance use prevention programs reduces harm from substances to people, their families and communities and also decreases the costs of substance use-related harm to society.

20 years of research have compiled evidence that prevention can result in substantial cost savings. Analysis shows that prevention efforts have reported savings of $15 to 18 on every dollar spent on drug prevention.

The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse has prepared a Report that makes the case for increased investments in prevention and provides an overview of the significant costs associated with substance abuse in Canada such as:

  • $8.8 billion – Direct health care costs
  • $5.4 billion – Direct law enforcement costs
  • $148 million – Direct costs for prevention and research
  • $14.6 billion – Direct and indirect costs attributed to alcohol
  • $8.2 billion – Direct and indirect costs attributed to illicit drugs

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