The opioid crisis has already cost the U.S. at least $631 billion, according to a study released this week by the society of actuaries.

The figures cover a four-year period from 2015 to 2018, and by the end of this year, the bill will reach $845 billion, with individuals and the private sector accounting for about 70% of the burden, with Federal, state and local governments bearing just under a third. The study estimated that spending at all levels of government was $ 186 billion.

Actuaries said the biggest cost was the loss of income of those who died from opioids, accounting for about 40% of the total. Additional health spending accounted for another third of total spending. The rest comes from police and legal work, education, childcare and lost productivity.

The report notes that the true cost of the crisis is probably higher than its estimates, given the difficulty of accounting for all the losses.

More than 400,000 people have died in the crisis since 1999, according to the Centers for disease control and prevention.

Like what you read? Sign up for our free newsletter.

Like us on Facebook to see similar stories

Please give an overall rating of the site: