Final answer:
Substance abuse costs the United States more than half a trillion dollars annually, significantly affecting the country's finances in terms of direct and indirect expenses.
Step-by-step explanation:
Taken together, substance abuse costs the United States over half a trillion dollars a year. This is much higher than the options of a half billion dollars or a billion dollars, and it falls below the option of a trillion dollars. Substance abuse has a significant financial impact, not only contributing to direct expenses but also leading to avoidable healthcare costs and other societal and economic repercussions.