Report says alcohol abuse costly in Montana

By the Associated Press

"A new University of Montana study said alcohol abuse costs the state's economy more than half a billion dollars per year in medical costs, lost wages and productivity and other public and private spending..."

"'The purpose of the study was to learn how a very familiar drug affects us all,' said Steve Seninger, a member of the Montana Epidemiological Workgroup that oversaw the report. 'The results of the study help put all of our substance abuse efforts in perspective.'"

"Berkey said there are other costs inflicted by alcohol that can't be estimated from available data. Those include fires started by people who've been drinking, loss of function from alcohol-related injuries and victim costs resulting from crimes..."

Full article available at http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/04/02/ap6246752.html