In every state, crime and arrest statistics show the relationship between drug or alcohol abuse and crime. And Texas is no exception. An examination of the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring Program statistics show that between 50 and 60 percent of adult male arrestees in four Texas cities tested positive for cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, opiates or PCP in 2000.

The numbers ranged from a high of 59 percent for Laredo to a low of almost 53 percent in San Antonio. Marijuana was the top drug found in Dallas, and 45 percent of all arrestees in Laredo tested positive for cocaine.

The same year, the economic impact of drug or alcohol abuse in Texas was an estimated $25.9 billion. This means a cost of more than $1,200 for every man, woman or child in the state.

According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, "Most directly, it is a crime to use, possess, manufacture or distribute drugs.

"Drugs also are related to crime through the effects they have on the user's behavior and by generating violence and other illegal activity in connection with drug trafficking."

Illicit drug users are about 16 times more likely than non-users to be arrested for theft, and nine times more likely to be arrested for assault.

The loss of life to drugs or alcohol is another cost that's hard to put a price tag on, said Gary W. Smith, executive director of Narcanon Arrowhead, one of the country's leading drug and alcohol rehabilitation and education centers. "Thousands of Texans lose their lives each year to substance abuse. In 2002, 1,677 people in Harris County and 1,070 people in Dallas County died this way."

Whether a person starts using drugs first or starts committing crimes first, the result is the same, said Smith.

"This self-destructive cycle can be interrupted with an effective drug or alcohol rehabilitation program."

Smith said another important part of the solution is drug education for young people.