Summary

Health care spending has been on the increase since the late 1990's. Employers are searching for ways to manage these costs and the associated reasons for these increases.  Many employers are unaware that alcohol use is one of the factors.  In fact, health care costs for employees who have alcohol problems are nearly twice as high as for those who do not. (NIAA.2000. Tenth special U.S. Congress on Alcohol and Health. Washington: U.S. Department of Human Services.)

This report provides information on the estimated direct health care costs for alcohol-related injuries and health problems, and the indirect costs for absenteeism, productivity, workplace injuries, workers compensation, and disability claims that all affect employers' bottom lines. Expanding treatment benefits makes good fiscal sense. Research has shown that alcohol treatment saves money over the long run.