Addiction is incredibly costly, not only to your relationships, professional life, and physical and mental health but also to your finances. Finances are not typically the first thing that you ponder when considering the long-term costs of your addiction, even if it is one of the barriers that is to be considered when it comes to pursuing a professional recovery program.
Understanding the impact that addiction has on your finances and how it affects other areas of your life is paramount for understanding the total ramifications of addiction. This knowledge helps create a more informed and direct plan to address your recovery while overviewing the financial component and its effects.
Fueling Addiction Is Expensive
Addiction can hurt your wallet just as much as your physical health. The cost of addiction can range wildly, depending on the substance used, how frequently they are used, and how much is ingested at one time. However, you may not realize exactly how much money is being spent to fuel your addiction, and the financial cost can often seem inconsequential if it is not being actively measured.
Pricing out your budget for addictive substances on a day-to-day basis can leave the greater overall cost unaddressed. Understanding the financial impact of your addiction demands that you first begin to measure the amount of money that you spend each day, then calculate the total cost per month, or even year.
Objectively Measuring Cost
Keeping receipts or writing down whenever you purchase addictive substances is instrumental in creating a genuine picture of how much you spend on your addiction. Individual purchases can add up extremely fast without you even realizing it. While the cost of one night may not seem too much, if these nights are happening multiple times a week consistently throughout the entire year, the cost can grow exponentially without you even knowing it.
However, keeping receipts and marking your spending habits is only addressing half of the financial impact that you may be suffering from. On top of these expenses, it is also important to consider any financial assistance that you are receiving in order to handle basic expenses such as bills, rent, groceries, gas money, etc. This is money that should be covered by yourself. Getting financial assistance from friends or family means that this money is instead being diverted into your addiction rather than tending to daily responsibilities.
Addressing Finances as a Barrier to Recovery
Adding together all of these expenses can be a very revealing experience. However, it can still be difficult to wrap your head around the expenses of a recovery program for your future. However, seeing recovery as an investment rather than a one-time expense can be the best way to view this situation.
Addiction recovery can seem expensive on the surface. However, crunching the numbers with the knowledge that you will be saving the money that would otherwise be going to addictive substances can put this cost into perspective. It is also important to remember that there are a number of different programs available. Some may benefit from taking a high-end approach to recovery, but this is not a requirement for an effective recovery.
Rather, it is more beneficial to look to the potential offerings of a facility first, amenities and programs included, and gauge this as your financial investment. Recovery can undoubtedly seem expensive, but the prolonged costs of addiction, the other responsibilities not being tended to, and the potential medical bills that may result from continued use can contextualize these expenses. Coupled with insurance, the finances of recovery can be more promising than the cost of continued addiction.
Taking Financial Hold of the Future
Learning to balance your funds is an essential skill in addiction recovery. Determining your budget before you enter recovery can bridge these essential skills. Balancing a daily budget for rewards and hobbies while utilizing the support of loved ones to implement effective budgeting for necessities can be the basis of a newfound agency in your recovery.
This can be coupled with building trust and developing further life skills that not only make prolonged recovery seem financially worth it, but also can create an emotionally secure and healthier future. Addiction can seem expensive at first, but understanding the financial cost alongside the emotional, mental, and physical cost can make recovery the best option for the future of your health. It is also the best option for your financial freedom and agency going forward each and every day.
Recovery and addiction both come with a financial component, but it can be difficult to wrap your head around the full financial impact of addiction. If you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse and are ready to take the first step in regaining financial control and embrace a healthier lifestyle, we at Avalon Malibu can help you today. We offer recovery programs around all of the major stages of recovery, from detox and residential care to partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs, all ready to help you understand the finances of addiction and your investment in your sober future. Your time with us can be further personalized based on your unique needs and goals, from individual and group therapy to art, yoga, mindfulness practices, music, and even a seasonal ropes course to help you explore your unique recovery path. For more information on how we can help you, call us today at (844) 857-5992.
