Tobacco most expensive drug

Overall, The Costs of Substance Abuse in Canada estimates that booze, drugs and tobacco cost Canadians about $39.8 billion in 2002. That’s 40 times the amount of money the Government of Nunavut spends each year.

That adds up to $1,267 per person:

* tobacco cost the most, at $541 per person;
* alcohol cost $463 per person;
* and illegal drugs cost $262 per person.

Out of the total costs to Canada:

* productivity losses made up 61 per cent of costs;
* direct health care costs made up 22 per cent of costs;
* policing costs made up 14 per cent of costs;
* and other costs made up the remaining 3 per cent.

Source: The Costs of Substance Abuse in Canada 2002, Highlights.