US Intoxication Gets 15 Times Cheaper as 48 Million Americans Face Addiction

1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 1

Alcohol, marijuana and synthetic drugs have become markedly more affordable and accessible in the US, making all-day intoxication easier than in past decades.
Less than 5% of a day's after-tax pay now buys a bottle of vodka, down from 75% in 1950; Oregon marijuana prices have fallen more than 60% since legalization, and fentanyl prices dropped 50% in five years.
Lower alcohol taxes, rising incomes, marijuana legalization and weaker legal risks have all cut the cost of getting high, while potent synthetics let users buy less for the same effect.
About 48 million Americans are addicted to some drug, including alcohol; roughly 70,000 die from overdoses each year and about 178,000 from excessive alcohol use.
The article argues lawmakers could curb demand by raising alcohol and marijuana taxes, citing studies that a 10% alcohol price increase would cut drinking 5% and alcohol-disease deaths 9% to 25%.

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