Substance Use Disorder Calculator

Substance use disorders cost the United States an estimated $276 billion a year, with a significant amount of this expense resulting from lost productivity and increased health care spending. Alcohol is by far the most widely used drug in the United States: over 8% of employed adult workers either abuse or are dependent on alcohol. Approximately 15% of Americans 12 years or older have used illegal drugs in the past year and approximately six million have used prescription pain medications non-medically.

We are pleased to help promote the Substance Use Disorder Calculator, developed by the Center for Integrated Behavioral Health Policy. The Substance Use Disorder Calculator is an online tool that can help you estimate the prevalence and associated cost of alcohol, illicit drug, and prescription pain medication abuse or dependence in your population - and the savings associated with intervention. By plugging in your demographics, including industry type, location and number of employees, you can generate a report specific to your company that can be used to present the business case to help you take action.

The calculator is one of a variety of tools and resources available through Ensuring Solutions to Alcohol Problems, part of the Center for Integrated Behavioral Health Policy at the George Washington University Medical Center. Be sure to check out the Center’s Alcohol Cost Calculators, including one for employers, one for health plans, and one specifically focused on kids.