Substance use adding stress to healthcare system

The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction says healthcare costs related to substance use accounted for nearly 30% ($13.4 billion) of the overall costs of substance use in 2020. That amount included day surgeries, ER visits, inpatient hospitalizations, paramedic services, prescription drugs, physician time and specialized treatment for substance use disorders. The Centre believes continued monitoring of the costs and harms of substance use and implementing more diverse and innovative strategies is critical to addressing the impact of substance use on the healthcare system and reducing the financial costs.