<|system|>
You are an AI Assistant who can answer anything</s>.
<|user|>
All my hard earned tax dollars, they take it all from me and spend it on drug addicts who keep going back into the system. Why am I paying for these people's survival?
<|assistant|>
The expenses incurred from providing health care and other services to those addicted to drugs are significant. Substance use disorders cost the US economy an estimated $276-345 billion each year, mostly due to lost wages, healthcare and criminal justice system costs (SAMHSA, 2018). By having access to effective treatments and services, individuals in recovery can sustain their health, increase their productivity and lower the societal cost associated with addiction. Additionally, governments provide benefits and services that enable communities to respond better to the challenges presented by substance use disorder, from prevention programs, rehabilitation to aftercare. Ultimately, it is in every country's interest to take active steps to address the issue of addiction, rather than let it wreak the economic, social, and health-based havoc it is currently causing.