"Of the total social cost of drug abuse in 2004/05 of $55.2 billion, alcohol accounted for $15.3 billion (27.3 per cent of the unadjusted total), tobacco for $31.5 billion (56.2 per cent), and illicit drugs $8.2 billion (14.6 per cent). Alcohol and illicit drugs acting together accounted for another $1.1 billion (1.9 per cent)."

Source

Collins, David J. and Lapsley, Helen M., The costs of tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug abuse to Australian society in 2004/05, Monograph 64, Report prepared for the Department of Health and Ageing, 2008, p. xi. http://www.nationaldrugstrategy.gov.au...