In this episode, we make a simple comparison between the costs of the US anti-drug campaign and the expenses of US presidential election campaigns.

According to figures released by the US Office of National Drug Control Policy, in the year 2013, out of 325 million Americans, 24.6 million adult Americans, constituting 9.4% of the US population consumed illicit drugs.

In the same year, 17.3 million American adults, comprising 6.6% of the US population were alcoholics.

Based on the latest figures published by this US state-run organization, in the year 2013, at least 22.7 million Americans were in need of medical treatment for drug abuse and alcoholism.

These figures do not show the surging trend of drug addiction and alcoholism among minors in the US.

In the year 2016, the US federal government has allocated $1.5bn for prevention of substance abuse in that country, equivalent to $124.7 million per month.

In the meantime, the costs of the US presidential election campaigns totaled $2.1bn until October 19, 2016, which equals the amount of money that the US federal government spends for prevention of substance abuse and alcoholism in that country in a period of seventeen months.

MR/MG