£15bn cost of Class A drug use

12 April 2012

Abuse of hard drugs such as heroin and crack costs England and Wales more than £15 billion a year, official figures have shown.

The Home Office said the cost of each "problematic drug user" amounted to more than £44,000 in crime, health and other expenses every year.

The estimates were far higher than a previous study published by the Government in 2000, which put the figures at £5.3 billion, or £10,402 for each addict.

The £15.4 billion total included the cost of thefts, frauds and victims' bills, as well as NHS, police and court costs.

A separate report by the official European drugs agency warned that the street price of illegal drugs has plummeted over the last five years - making them cheaper than ever before.

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) said the cost of some drugs had halved - including brown heroin, falling by 47%, and ecstasy (45%).

EMCDDA chairman Marcel Reimen said: "We cannot fail to be concerned that across Europe drugs are becoming cheaper in real terms.

"If this means that those who have a tendency to consume drugs will use them more, then the ultimate cost of drug-taking in terms of healthcare and damage to our communities is likely to be considerable."

The Home Office also revealed there were an estimated 327,000 problem drug users in England. Previous estimates from 2000 had put the number at 337,000 in England and Wales.

Despite falling street prices, the Home Office statistics valued the illegal drug market in the UK at £5.3 billion a year. This was equal to exactly a third of the amount spent on tobacco in the country, and 41% of the sum spent on alcohol.

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