No doubt the cost of drug abuse to society is high. At the end of the 20th century, according to a study conducted by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, such abuse cost the United States about 180.9 billion dollars for the year 2002. A number of factors go into this figure, including resources that are used to combat the consequences to crime and to health, as well as the losses that are incurred in the workforce from death, withdrawal and disability. The personal cost of substance abuse is as high in its own way.

In the last decade of the last century, the costs have risen an average of 5.3 percent each year from 1992 to 2002. It’s a rate that’s higher than the annual growth for the gross domestic product for the country’s entire economy. Note that this study was conducted well before the economic downturn in the last decade, where cost of drug abuse would only be exacerbated by a world straining from financial hardship.

That study also didn’t take into account abuse problems from legal substances that might be called drugs, such as tobacco and alcohol. More current estimates from the National Institute on Drug Abuse , place the figure at an excess of $600 billion dollars! These include not only crime costs, but costs of productivity and health. Broken down, the figures work out to around $181 billion for illegal drugs and then, for the legal substances, $193 billion for tobacco and a staggering $235 billion for alcohol.

Of course, these dry figures don’t include the human cost – the disintegration of families, the loss of jobs, domestic violence, child abuse, failure in school, and much more. These also should be considered in the total cost.

As high as Drug rehab costs may be, collectively, drug rehab programs may be seen as one solution to what comes down to a very human problem. But how does the individual go about paying for this solution, especially considering that low finances and substance abuse often go together?

While a struggle, a person with fewer funds may still be able to get help. State and federally funded drug rehabilitation facilities may be one such solution. These facilities often run on a sliding fee scale and can arrange for payment plans. They also work with Medicare and Medicaid programs. In some states, vouchers are available from federal programs – although it’s important to note that not every state participates and many of these particular programs are faith-based. Yet another option is to check out clinical trials that are testing new methods of counseling and medical treatment.

With thousands of treatment centers in the United States, on line searches will also help individuals in need locate affordable drug rehab centers everywhere from Los Angeles and New York to drug treatment in MN , where recovery can begin.

With an election year right around the corner, many politicians are going to be arguing about whether the economy is better or worse than it was in 2008. No matter what statistics they throw at the press, most people know that times are still tough. The average person wants to know that they are making smart financial decisions and that they aren’t loosing money.

When it comes to buying real estate, there are all sorts of calculations to determine if a specific house or condo is a good investment. But how do you tell if you’re getting a good deal when renting an apartment?

Start by considering how much you can afford to pay. The general recommendation is that your rent and utilities should not exceed 30% of your gross monthly income. That means that someone making $40,000 a year should only spend $1000 a month for rent plus utilities, such as electricity, water, gas, sewage, etc. If you’re spending more than that, you’re hurting your overall financial health.

Next make sure that you know what you need. Paying too much for an apartment that doesn’t have enough square footage or that has more bathrooms than you need is a bad deal. Daniel Drimmer , President of Starlight Apartments, recommends working with companies like his, which offer a variety of properties in different neighborhoods, floorplans, and price ranges, to find the unit that meets your exact needs.

It is also important to consider what the going rate for apartments is in a given area. Keep in mind that the average cost of an apartment within a single city is going to vary greatly depending on size, exact location, and amenities offered by the building or complex. Experts like Daniel Drimmer suggest that you look at prices in your target neighborhood for a range of apartments, even those that don’t suit your needs. This way you can get an idea of the typical rent and will be able to tell if a stated rent is too high or within the market range.

Lastly, make sure that you go over your lease with your landlord or property manager. You need to know exactly what deposits , utilities, and maintenance fees you are responsible for. There is nothing worse than moving into an apartment and then realizing you have to pay more than you thought for community maintenance fees or that your deposit is non-refundable.

With a little due diligence and planning you should be able to find an apartment that provides a comfortable living environment and is a good deal for your pocketbook.

Preparation and Testing Needs for Graduate School

While many seniors in college are busy preparing their resumes, scheduling interviews with companies blending this with overall social activities and classwork, many others are preparing for their next phase of academic life, graduate school. And along with this preparation comes a certain amount of stress as well as expected life changes. Many young people choose to go out of state, or at least to a different part of their state for their undergraduate studies, while numerous others remain in or near their hometown. However, the amount of out of state students in graduate programs increases a great deal. This is due in part to a strong need to separate your academic background from undergraduate to graduate levels as well as the specific focus of many programs.

Regardless of whether or not you intend to purse a terminal masters degree, such as a JD or MFA, or plan to advance into a doctoral program after your initial graduate studies, the chances are high that one of a few tests will be required. The GRE is a standard graduate acceptance test, while others such as the GMAT and LSAT are typically associated with more specialized fields. The GMAT is typical for most business schools and is part of the MBA program acceptance process. There are numerous gmat prep preparation classes, as well as software programs and specific tests and tools that can help you with your overall successful application.

Business degrees continue to be one of the most soft after and are a necessary educational background to numerous positions. Any management career can be enhanced and your prospects boosted by having those impressive words on your resume. In addition to some of the generalized questions, specific algebra problems and mathematic skills are required. This is the area that typically creates stress in applicants and is easily dealt with through various supplemental classes and available coursework. Regardless of where you plan to go to school, your transcripts, letters of recommendation and test scores will play a major role in your acceptance. These are easily dealt with through proper planning and preparation, but can also contribute to the overall work and stress load of many college seniors. While some BA candidates are busy preparing for their post college life and careers , many ambitious others are simply getting ready for their next, and more intense, phase of academic life. Where you find yourself fitting into this scheme depends greatly on your overall career intentions, as well as your financial situation. And determining how you plan to pay for your graduate degree is a whole other topic and time investment.