If you have watched the movie, Beautiful Boy, chances are that you are aware of what it’s like to be with someone who is addicted. Mr. Timothee Chalamet did one phenomenal job with the portrayal of a teenage boy struggling with addiction.
However, what the movie did not portray is how addiction can give rise to financial issues.
Addiction is the root cause of a lot of family problems in most societies. If you or someone you know has struggled with addiction, then you know what kind of a toll it can take on you and those around you. But one major aspect that is not talked about enough is the financial strain one faces while dealing with addiction.
Today, we will take a look at the reasons why addiction can cause financial detriments in a person’s life.
Financial Detriments & Addiction – How are they related?
These are some of the reasons behind the financial toll of drugs and alcohol –
Cost of Drugs/Alcohol
Let us start by stating the obvious. Drugs and alcohol are expensive. They are an added expense that you would not have made otherwise. Yes, there is the occasional drinking but when you are addicted to it, things can really escalate to a risky level.
This includes your finances. A non-addicted person will consume alcohol but with his or her limitations in mind. An addict on the other hand does not consider external factors because they are very much dependent on the liquor.
Every drug and bottle of alcohol contains different price tags on them. Especially drugs. The more expensive the drug, the more money you will be willing to spend to give in to your urge.
So, if a non-alcoholic individual spends around 10% of his salary on alcohol, an alcoholic on the other hand will spend around 80-100% of it. Therefore, although a lot of people start off their journey of addiction with pockets deep in cash, by the end of it all, they are in huge debt, unaware if they can pay it back.
Medical Bills
Addiction gives rise to a lot of health issues. While it gradually deteriorates your physical and mental health, it also increases the stacks of unpaid medical bill envelopes on your doorstep.
A person struggling with addiction can be prone to plenty of health risks. The most prevalent condition found in people who are addicted is cardiovascular disease.
Heart surgeries can cost a lot. In fact, any surgery can cost you a lot of money. But when it comes to the heart, we can guarantee that you will have to spend a lot in order to get better.
Apart from heart diseases, people with addiction can also suffer from mental disorders, stroke, Hepatitis B and C, lung disease etc. And as you already know, a thorough check-up on its own can cost a lot.
Therefore, every year addicts end up spending a ton of money for treatment, which they would have otherwise saved, had they not been addicted.
Moreover, paying medical bills can be a real struggle when you do not have medical insurance. Not to mention, addiction induces risky behaviours in individuals.
For example, people who are addicted can be very reckless on the road. This may cause them to, unfortunately, get into some sort of an accident, leaving them seriously injured. Thus, you will have to pay more money to take proper care of the injuries.
Furthermore, if you are using needles, note that you might have higher chances of contracting diseases like Hepatitis and HIV.
All of these come with additional costs which can leave any person in a huge pile of debt.
Job & Other Responsibilities
People who are suffering from addiction can become quite reckless. So in case an addict decides to show up to work while being drunk, there is a 99% of chance of that person losing his or her job!
Not to mention, most adults who are addicted have a family to take care of. Spending more on alcohol and drugs can leave you completely empty-handed. You never know, you might even end up facing issues paying for rent, bills and basic necessities like food.
Legal Fees
If we are talking about illegal drugs, get ready to jump into some serious legal issues. Legal fees itself can cost a lot and if you have to hire an attorney for yourself, you might have to dig deep in your pockets.
Another added risk is that in case you are sent behind bars for consuming illegal drugs, you may never end up finding a job to support yourself or your family. That is one financial struggle you never want to go through.
Fees for Rehab & Treatment Plans
There’s a good reason why we chose to save this one for the last. It is because the costs incurred for this cannot really be deemed as additional ‘expenses.’ It is never too late to start your treatment plans to get better. You can always change your habits and do everything in your power to get better.
Conclusion
Therefore, although rehabs and other treatment plans for addicts can cost a lot of money, it is still a lot better than spending it on anything else. This is because once you are on your way to recovery, things will hopefully start to look up. You may even end up finding a job for yourself to support you and your family.
And the minute you start taking responsibility, you will see your finances improving in no time. All you have to do is just believe in yourself. Hence, we suggest that you should not sit down to compare the costs of sobriety and being an addict. Because both of them bring about different consequences in your life.
What’s more, there are plenty of insurance companies that cover costs for both alcohol and drug rehab. This is why you should always get medical insurance as it can benefit you from future mishaps.
Photo by Mishal Ibrahim on Unsplash