The Economic Toll of the Opioid Crisis Reached Nearly $1.5 Trillion in 2020

Topics

Cost of Opioids, Opioids

Summary/Excerpts

The opioid crisis cost the U.S. nearly $1.5 trillion in 2020, driven by increased opioid use and an increase in overdose deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pandemic-related disruptions, including reduced access to treatment and heightened social and economic stress, were considered to be factors in these outcomes. Racial disparities were also highlighted during this time, as Black Americans faced a sharper increase in overdose rates and greater barriers to treatment. While federal and state efforts have improved funding and access to care, more is needed to expand treatment, reduce stigma, and address the ongoing crisis.

Key Statistics

Joint Economic Committee estimates the opioid epidemic cost the United States nearly $1.5 trillion in 2020 alone—up 37% from 2017, when the CDC last measured the cost

Opioid cases increased during the coronavirus pandemic, costing the United States an estimated $1.5 trillion in 2020

The opioid crisis disproportionately hurts Black Americans and increases economic inequality

Coronavirus pandemic disruptions created new barriers for people diagnosed with opioid use disorder

Citation

Joint Economic Committee Democrats. (2022). The economic toll of the opioid crisis reached nearly $1.5 trillion in 2020. Retrieved from https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/democrats/2022/9/the-economic-toll-of-the-opioid-crisis-reached-nearly-1-5-trillion-in-2020

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