Revealed: The cost of tackling drink and drug addiction in Wolverhampton hits £15m in three years
More than £15 million has been spent helping alcoholics and drug addicts in Wolverhampton over the past three years, it has been revealed.
Some £5m is expected to be spent again this year though the boss of a charity helping addicts in the city said this is not enough to help everyone in need.
A freedom of information request to Wolverhampton Council revealed that £15,240,224 has been spent on providing help in the city since 2013.
A council spokesman said: "Drug addiction costs society £15.4bn per year – and treating drug addicts not only improves their health and wellbeing but makes communities safer and reduces crime, as heroin or crack users not in treatment commit crime costing an average of £26,000 per year.
"It is estimated that every £1 spent on drug treatment saves £2.50 in costs to society, while intervening earlier brings even greater benefits."
Sunny Dhadley, of Wolverhampton Service User Team, said the charity only received a small percentage of the cash but it is made to go a long way.
He said: "Until central government changes some of the methods in which things are done, we are going to continue to see that not enough people get the help they need.
"More money does need to be spent to help people."
He said the charity had worked with 953 people last year with addictions.
The organisation directs people to treatment services and can provide help with getting accommodation.
Mr Dhadley said: "We have a more personal approach and I think that's something that needs to be applied across the board.
"Getting a drug or alcohol addiction isn't something that happens in isolation.
"People find themselves falling into it usually through poverty, criminality, getting in with the wrong crowd and that kind of thing."
