JFAS Int 2006;4:e9 - May 30, 2006
A Prenatal Perspective on the Cost of Substance Abuse in Canada

Janine Hutson
Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Canada

Abstract
The Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse recently estimated the annual cost of substance abuse in Canada to be nearly 40 billion dollars. The estimation does not contain comprehensive economic consequences of prenatal exposure to tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use. Although many studies have estimated the cost attributable to prenatal substance exposure in specific populations and age groups, national cost estimations cannot be made mainly due to lack of Canadian prevalence data for drug use during pregnancy. The development of objective biomarkers for prenatal substance exposure presents an opportunity to build on prevalence data for Canada. By improving prevalence data and cost estimations, the large economic impact of prenatal substance exposure may be realized and used to argue for public policy change.

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