Study: Substance misuse cost Alaska about $3.5 billion

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – Substance misuse in Alaska has cost the state about $3.5 billion in 2018 in resulting health care, productivity loss, criminal justice, traffic accidents and other services, a yearlong study said.

The McDowell Group, contracted by the state Mental Health Trust Authority, found that $2.4 billion was related to alcohol abuse and $1.1 billion was related to drug abuse, Juneau Empire reported Friday.

Health officials define substance misuse as the use of illegal drugs or inappropriate use of alcohol or prescription drugs.

“We see the impact of substance misuse every hour of e...