{"id":6434,"date":"2017-11-07T14:46:17","date_gmt":"2017-11-07T19:46:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.northcentralmass.com\/?p=6434"},"modified":"2023-12-11T12:40:16","modified_gmt":"2023-12-11T17:40:16","slug":"addiction-economy-hidden-link","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.northcentralmass.com\/es\/addiction-economy-hidden-link\/","title":{"rendered":"Addiction and the Economy:\u00a0 The Hidden Link\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

The preventable loss of life from addiction is a tragedy which destroys families and devastates communities. But often absent from the conversation about addiction is the fact that it is also inflicting harm on the American economy,<\/a> on a scale not seen in any previous drug crisis. \u00a0A 2011 study,<\/a> \u00a0published in the journal\u00a0Pain Medicine<\/em>, estimated that health-care costs related to prescription opioid abuse amounted to $25 billion dollars, and criminal-justice-system costs totaled $5.1 billion. But the largest financial cost was to the workplace, which accounted for $25.6 billion, in the form of lost earnings and employment. Howard Birnbaum, a health-care economist and one of the authors of the study, explains, \u201cThere are major consequences to the economy\u2026If people don\u2019t have jobs, they don\u2019t have money to spend in the grocery store, or on gasoline.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

And evidence supporting the link between addiction and the economy is growing. In July of 2017, economists from Goldman Sachs Group Inc.<\/a>, reported that America\u2019s opioid epidemic is sidelining people in their prime working years and contributing to the stubbornly low rate of men and women who are either employed or looking for jobs. In September of 2017, Princeton economist Alan Krueger, noted a definitive link between addiction and the reduced labor force: Where Have All the Workers Gone? An Inquiry into the Decline of the U.S. Labor Force Participation Rate<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

The human, social and economic costs of this national crisis can certainly feel overwhelming. \u00a0However, here in North Central Massachusetts we have reason to be hopeful as our region is uniquely poised to face this challenge head-on. In February of 2017, the City of Fitchburg applied to be a Pilot Community with Facing Addiction, Inc.<\/a> The application was submitted by the Joint Coalition on Health after requesting and receiving the full support of Fitchburg leadership including Mayor DiNatale, Chief Martineau and Board of Health Director, Stephen Curry.<\/p>\n

Facing Addiction Inc. received more than 50 applications from communities across the country. In March of 2017, it was announced that Fitchburg, MA was selected as one of 15 communities to participate in the organization\u2019s pilot community project.<\/a><\/p>\n

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The Pilot Project, Facing Addiction In Fitchburg And Beyond<\/em>, is seeking support and participation from all sectors including our region\u2019s vibrant business community.<\/p>\n

Ways to take action now:<\/p>\n