The Financial Consequences of Addiction (From Castle Craig Hospital) (5 Articles)
~ Thursday, May 25, 2023 Blog Post ~
By Castle Craig Hospital, July 15, 2022
Among the many negative consequences of addiction, financial cost is unavoidable. A lucky few may be able to carry their losses and keep functioning but for many, the pain of it all will surely become intense, unless they stop their addictive habit. This pain may eventually become a catalyst for change, but it will usually come too late to stave off financial crisis. Denial of reality and trying to ‘buy one’s way out of trouble’ will have prolonged the misery too far for most people to repair. The good news is that, with the benefit of sobriety, many recovering people are able to rebuild their finances along with the rest of their lives.
There Are Many Financial Consequences
Addiction has a long reach, and the financial costs of addiction are more varied and more damaging than most people think. It is not just the direct drain on your bank account that addiction exacts for keeping it going on a daily basis — the money you need to buy drugs and alcohol, gamble or feed your shopping addiction for example. That can be dire and vicious enough because it re-occurs relentlessly, usually daily. But then there are the indirect costs (such as loss of employment) which might not happen but are made more likely by your addictive behaviour. Further beyond these probable indirect costs, there are a whole range of unforeseen and less likely, but nevertheless possible costs that may or may not occur (such as an expensive divorce on the grounds of abusive behaviour). These should still be regarded as potential threats to your finances that could one day happen.
Direct Costs
A quick look at some typical direct costs shows how seriously your finances can be affected just by feeding your addiction on a daily basis.
- Cost of alcohol: though intakes vary, a typical alcoholic consumes the equivalent of a bottle of spirits per day which at supermarket prices, equates to about £100 per week — at least £5k per year — but this can be far larger when social drinking is involved. Bar prices are high.
- Cost of drugs: cocaine and heroin are both highly popular and expensive. Heavy use of either could cost £20k per year. Crystal meth might cost £10k, which is why many people switch to it from heroin and cocaine. A cannabis habit is likely to cost £4–5k per year.
- Cost of gaming: Many games are available free, but some charge the player for extras such as more powerful weapons. The direct financial toll of a gaming habit is lower than some other addictions.
- Cost of tobacco: a cigarette smoker on 20 per day spends about £4k per year. If they roll their own, the cost would be £2k.
- Cost of gambling: gambling has the potential for you to lose everything including your home. Personal computers and credit cards make it possible to run up huge debts very quickly. The suicide rate among gamblers is the highest for any addiction. Beware the glamour.
- Cost of investing: investing sounds a safe word but if done addictively and repeatedly it becomes day-trading with the potential to incur enormous losses. Cryptocurrency trading is popular because its volatility makes it more exciting but there is always the potential to lose everything you have. Some forms of investment that allow you to sell short (sell a stock you have yet to buy) have the potential for huge losses too.
- Cost of shopping: This sounds a relatively harmless occupation, but the internet and credit cards have made it easy for people to spend tens of thousands on items they don’t need and can’t pay for.
- Other addictions: behavioural addictions of all kinds nearly always involve a direct cost — sex, overeating, and over-exercising come with a price tag. Perhaps the only exception is an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa, where direct cost is minimal (but other costs can be huge).
Depending on the type of addiction, direct costs can vary enormously, but they represent just the tip of a very nasty iceberg that can rip the bottom out of your finances.
Indirect but Likely, Costs
Paying out simply to keep your addictive habit going from day to day is the start of your financial exposure but few addicted people get away without paying a lot more. Indirect costs are likely to be high but unquantifiable. We ignore them at our peril. Here are a few examples:
- Loss of income through job loss: although employers today have a more enlightened approach to addiction among employees, people still lose their jobs because of their addiction. In some types of work (where driving is required, for example) dismissal may be automatic if an employee presents for a shift in an intoxicated state. The likelihood of finding alternative work may be poor for such people until they can establish lasting sobriety. Thus, unemployment can trigger a whole series of negative events — loans cannot be serviced, mortgages unpaid, children underfed.
- Healthcare: addiction attacks the body and the brain. Even if your major organs such as heart, liver and kidneys don’t require attention, your mental health probably will. A high proportion of all hospital admissions are addiction related in some way. You may require counselling or more intensive treatment. In Britain, the NHS does a wonderful job at little cost to the consumer, but private healthcare comes at a high price. Even if you keep your job, the time you spend on detoxification or medical care may be deducted from your pay and if you are self-employed, a long lay-off may be disastrous.
- Loss of productivity: it is impossible to give your best at work of any kind when you are in active addiction. Instead, you are likely to be listless, distracted and generally underperforming. People will notice, however hard you try to hide your shortcomings. This can affect your chances of promotion or, if you are freelance, your ability to self-promote as a quality service provider. Over time, the effect on your bank balance will show.
- Legal costs: addiction causes trouble — our self-destructive behaviour leads to all kinds of legal problems — accidents, negligence, assaults, theft, debt and drink driving to name just a few. Coming up against the law in its civil or criminal form will quickly empty your bank account even before any costs and damages that may be levied.
- Neglect of good practices and responsibilities: most addicted people are either careless or ignorant of prudent practices and responsibilities such as insuring against loss, paying bills on time to avoid late payment charges, healthcare insurance or sensible budgeting practices. Not renewing a loss of profits insurance, for example, because you have spent the money on cocaine could turn out to have been a very bad decision.
- Cost of borrowing: credit card providers and some loan companies charge exorbitant rates. Addiction leads people into debt. A gambler with £50k debt on credit cards might pay a further £11k interest in a year.
Indirect but Less Likely, Costs
- Forced sale of assets: when the strain on finances becomes intense, people may be forced into selling major assets on unfavourable terms because they cannot wait for a better market price. This is especially dangerous in markets such as housing and stocks and shares, which tend to be cyclical.
- Divorce: unfortunately, some marriages cannot bear the pressure of addiction, but the denial of addiction may render them unforeseen. Although spouses are often supportive to the point of co-dependence, they have a breaking point. Divorces, where addiction is involved, tend to be bitter and expensive for the addicted person.
- Fines and penalties: addiction can lead people to behaviour that is completely out of character and beyond unacceptable. There are people in prison for crimes they cannot remember committing — they only know that they were intoxicated at the time. Even when the prison is avoided, there may be heavy fines and penalties levied for crimes such as financial impropriety and public disorder.
- Loss of professional recognition: high standards are rightly expected of professionals such as doctors, lawyers and accountants. Sometimes they do things that they would never dream of doing while sober. Being stripped of their accreditation means financial disaster and it happens to hundreds of professionals every year. Some may achieve reinstatement later, but the financial cost is still enormous.
Cost of Rehabilitation
The cost of a few weeks in residential rehab might cost you £25k-30k. You might require further, less intensive care after that which, though less expensive, could total another £10k. People often baulk at these sums and exclaim that they cannot afford the cost. Not so many have that kind of money in their bank account. On the other hand, your addiction could be costing you more. Substance abuse — especially if alcohol, drugs and tobacco are all involved, can cost £10k-20k per year in direct costs alone and indirect costs could easily double this. In the case of behavioural addictions such as gambling or shopping, for example, the annual costs in extreme cases are limited only by the amounts a person can beg, borrow or steal. With this in mind, can you afford Not to go into rehab?
Rehabilitation — The First Step
At Castle Craig Hospital we are always ready to discuss your concerns about rehab, including cost and the ways this may be covered. Health insurance, NHS and private funding are all possible. We are proud to have helped many people gain lasting sobriety and thereby return to financial health, in addition to physical and mental health.
Rehabilitation Leads to Financial Health
Sober people can achieve great things. Starting with the courage and honesty to face their situation, people often find it possible to develop a plan to bring their finances back into balance. Even when people have incurred large losses through gambling or cryptocurrency trading, they can still recover. This may include some hard decisions and some negotiations with creditors, but it can be done. It may take time, but for those prepared to make recovery their priority, it is certainly achievable. As part of your continuing care plan, we will help you take the first steps back to financial stability.
Our team of experienced admissions staff are here to make the process as easy as possible for you.
Call us on our 24-hour helpline.
Source: https://www.castlecraig.co.uk/addiction/financial-consequences/
Article #2: The Financial Toll of Addiction (From Drugabuse.com)
By American Addiction Centers Editorial Staff, January 19, 2023
If you’ve ever known someone who has suffered from addiction or have been that person yourself, you’ll know how much of an emotional toll it can have on you and your loved ones.
It can put a strain on your relationships and affect both your personal and professional life. Having an addiction also comes with serious health concerns. Abusing drugs can seriously harm your body and you may even have to deal with these issues for the rest of your life.
While the health issues and strain on relationships are usually the first things we all think about when it comes to drug addiction, don’t forget about the financial costs of substance abuse.
According to researchers, the economic burden of addiction in the United States is more than twice that of any other neurological disease.1 Of course, actually buying drugs in the first place can be costly, but there are additional expenses when it comes to healthcare, legal fees, and other social costs. Let’s not forget that often those addicted to drugs may end up with a loss of income.
Let’s look at the financial toll of addiction.
Addiction and Poverty
Drug and alcohol addiction is by far most costly for the poor. If you’re at the poverty level, a pack of cigarettes per day can consume 10% of your family’s monthly income. Even worse, if you’re a heavy substance abuser, you might even be spending half or more of your monthly income on drugs.
Addiction can even create poverty in future generations. Due to your drug habits, your children may receive inadequate education and struggle with budgeting and time management. They may even mimic your habits and develop addictions themselves; something no one wants for their children.
Addiction is heavily associated with poverty, not just because substance abuse itself is expensive, but because addiction is often a means of escapism. Many people living in poverty abuse substances in order to avoid the serious problems they may be facing in their lives. When you’re living paycheck to paycheck and struggling to make ends meet, drugs can provide an instant gratification that is virtually absent in all other areas of your life.
Cost of Buying Drugs
If you have a substance addiction, paying for it can get expensive, regardless of the substance. Even something that can be cheap, such as alcohol, can drain your bank account over time, especially if you find you need to use more to get your desired effect.
To put this into perspective, if you drink a cheap $5 6-pack of beer every day, that’s $150 each month. That’s almost $1,000 in 6 months to support this habit.
Now switch out the $5 beer to a more expensive drug like cocaine or heroin and the cost skyrockets. Some people can easily spend more than $10,000 each year to support their addiction.
Loss of Productivity and Income
Abusing drugs can make you significantly less productive. You may start to notice that you’re calling in sick to work more often and when you do make an appearance, the quality of your work is very sub par. Poor work performance can mean you miss out on promotions or bonuses, a cut back on shifts, or you could even lose your job.
Many addicts lose their jobs and remain unemployed as a result of their addiction. Others end up in jails, prisons, or long-term rehabilitation facilities, which can result in years of lost productivity. It can be difficult to get yourself back in the workforce after years of unemployment due to drug abuse.
Social security and retirement benefits can also be affected, so even after recovery, you could continue to experience the financial impact of your addiction for years.
Over a lifetime, addiction can cost an addict thousands of dollars in lost productivity potential.
Health Care, Insurance Costs, and Legal Fees
Being a drug addict can result in serious health problems. This is already a huge and life-threatening cost, however it also comes with increased health care fees and insurance premiums.
Another cost that may often be overlooked, is the increase in car insurance premiums and fines you incur as a result of your addiction. Getting arrested for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol may result in a 300% increase in your car insurance premiums, significant legal fees, and let’s not forget jail time.
Other payments you may need to make include fees for attorney services, educational courses, and drug-related fines.
The Costs of Addiction on Society
The costs of addiction on society are extremely high. Drug addiction costs society billions of dollars in health care expenditures, enforcement of drug laws, lost productivity, etc.
Addiction can also result in unpaid debts, missed payments, late fees, and foreclosure of property. According to research, excessive drinking alone cost the United States approximately $223 billion dollars in health care expenses, law enforcement costs, and lost productivity in 2006. In 2007, similar problems relating to illicit drug use cost the country another $193 billion dollars.1
For every $1 that is spent on substance abuse treatment, $4 is saved in health care costs and $7 is saved in law enforcement costs. Drug abuse treatment not only saves lives — it saves billions of dollars as well.
How to Get Help for Drug or Alcohol Addiction
If you or a loved one is struggling with substance misuse, it may be time to seek help. Professional treatment programs offer the support you need. You can contact a representative with American Addiction Centers (AAC) for free at 877–433–1896or get a text for help locating rehab facilities that suit your requirements. You can also check your insurance coverage online now.
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Health Insurance Providers and Coverage Levels
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Sources:
1. Office of National Drug Control Policy. (2012). Cost benefits of investing early in substance abuse treatment.
2. https://drugabuse.com/blog/financial-toll-addiction/
Article #3: The Many Financial Effects of Addiction (From Bluecrest Recovery Center)
If you or one of your loved ones struggle with addiction then there are a number of challenges that you’ll have to face. One of the most obvious difficulties you will face will be financial strain. There are lots of different ways in which addiction can wreak havoc on a person’s finances.
In this article, we will describe some of the most common ways that drug users and alcoholics often struggle with their finances. By understanding this, you will be able to make better decisions and encourage people who are living with an active addiction to do so as well.
Addiction and Poverty
Addiction is commonly associated with poverty. There are a few reasons for this, and this fact is apparent on both sides of the poverty issue. People who live in poverty are more likely to experience addiction, and people who develop addictions are far more likely to end up in poverty.
Let’s take a look first at people who already live in poverty. These people will likely be much more impacted by the financial cost of addiction. For example, someone who is addicted to something as commonplace as cigarettes may have to spend a great portion of their daily income just to afford a pack of cigarettes.
These problems are further exacerbated if people who live in poverty are addicted to more expensive drugs. In this situation, they may simply not make enough money to afford their addiction as well as their food, their home, their school, etc.
Unfortunately, addiction is so powerful that it often takes precedence in situations like these. This means that these people will become more likely to commit illegal acts like thievery in order to find their addiction.
On the other hand, addiction can send even the most financially stable people into poverty. When you have a lot of money, it becomes easy to forget how costly your addiction is becoming. You may begin to think that you can use as much as you want without having it affect your finances.
Unfortunately, this is a sure fire way to develop a very strong addiction. The more addicted you become, the more money you will be spending on your addiction. It’s not hard for your addiction to spiral so far out of control that you spend your entire savings or put yourself into debt without realizing it.
Some people spiral so far into addiction that they end up losing their jobs, their houses, and their entire support network. In more serious cases, the struggling users may end up completely homeless. When this happens, it becomes all the more difficult for them to attain a job. When people are stuck in the cycle of homelessness and addiction, it may feel like things are hopeless. This can create negative emotions that will further push them into addiction.
The Cost of Drugs
The price of drugs and alcohol is also one of the most important considerations. Drugs and alcohol can vary significantly in price. The quality of the drugs will have a huge impact on the price. Bottom-shelf liquor, for example, will not cost nearly as much as high-end drinks.
Another thing to consider is the development of tolerance. As you become more tolerant to drugs and alcohol, you will require a higher dosage to feel the same effect. This means that the cost of your addiction will continue to rise as it becomes more serious.
This is one of the reasons that people end up in poverty because of addiction. At first, the addiction may seem sustainable. However, as things progress to a more intense level, it becomes increasingly obvious that not only do the drugs become more expensive, but the addiction becomes less controllable.
At this stage the addiction is no longer manageable and even those purchasing the cheapest substances may easily run themselves out of money.
Loss of Productivity and Income
Another issue that affects the finances of addicted individuals is the loss of productivity and income.
Some people are able to remain ‘functional addicts.’ In this case, they are able to maintain a job while they support their addiction. However, this is not the case for everyone.
Many people begin to become less productive as they spiral deeper into addiction. They may begin to lack energy or they may find it in sporadic bursts. This can make them unreliable for their jobs and they may lose their employment.
Drug users and alcoholics are also more prone to missing work due to hangovers, withdrawals, or erratic behavior.
Even self-employed individuals may struggle to maintain their income when they are using drugs or alcohol. Without strict discipline and control it can be very difficult for a self-employed person to manage an addiction alongside a regular routine. This can damage contracts and lead to the loss of income.
Health Care
Drug users and alcoholics may also need to spend additional money on health care services.
Long-term users may develop some physical or mental health problems as a result of their addiction. This can necessitate therapy, visits to medical centers, and doctors, all of which can be costly.
People may also run the risk of overdosing. If you end up in the hospital because of an overdose then you may have to pay a fee for the ambulance and the treatment that you receive.
Furthermore, as long-term users develop health problems later in life, they may lose their ability to work. This can create further financial strain that makes it difficult to keep their head above the water.
Rehab
One of the biggest costs for a recovering drug user is the cost of rehab.
The cost of rehab will vary depending on what sort of services you require. You can also expect the price to change depending on the quality of rehab treatment that you are seeking.
For example, not everyone will require a medically supervised detox. These are generally for people who are addicted to physically addictive drugs that produce an intense withdrawal period. People addicted to alcohol and benzodiazepines should always seek a supervised detox along with a long weaning process, as these drugs can produce fatal seizures if they are not reduced gradually.
The price of detox alone is often more than $1,000. This may or may not be included in the price of your rehab treatment program. If it is, you may be able to save a bit of money when compared to seeking detox on its own.
The price of the rehab program that you’re going to be attending can also vary quite a bit. Low-end rehab programs are going to be a lot cheaper than high-end, luxury rehab programs. Rehab treatments also vary in length. Shorter programs can be a month or less, whereas longer inpatient programs can be several months in length.
Outpatient rehab programs are cheaper than inpatient rehabs. At an outpatient rehab you are just paying for the treatment services that you receive while you’re attending the facility. An inpatient program, on the other hand, requires that you pay for your room, board, and the availability of medical services that you will receive during the program.
The cost of rehab may be as little as a couple thousand dollars. However, if you require an extensive or long-term treatment program then you could easily see the price shift up into the tens of thousands.
It is possible to attend community or government/state-funded programs. However, these programs do not always offer the same standard of treatment that you can expect to receive if you are attending a more expensive program.
This is something to consider. If the treatment is not effective and you end up using again, then you will have to resume paying for the cost of your addiction again. In the long-run, it may be more worthwhile to choose a program that is slightly more expensive.
Legal Fees
Not everyone who battles an addiction will have to deal with legal fees, although this is not uncommon.
Many drug users feel the need to engage in criminal activity to fund their addiction. If they are caught stealing then they may be arrested and charged. The cost of the legal fees related to this can be quite steep.
On top of that, the very act of possessing drugs is illegal in most places. This puts someone at risk of being fined and charged simply by having an addiction.
One must also consider that it’s illegal to be drunk in public. If an alcoholic is acting belligerent or obnoxious, or caught driving a car, then they may be charged with public intoxication or drunken driving. Again, the fees for these problems can be quite expensive and can seriously impact a person’s finances.
Affecting Spouse/Partner Finances
Struggling drug users and alcoholics may also affect the finances of their spouse.
In the most serious cases, someone with an active addiction may steal or lie about the use of their partner’s finances. In addition to causing financial strain this can also cause problems with trust in the relationship.
Furthermore, most spouses are invested in helping their partners stay safe. For many, this can be a costly procedure. If your partner is spending all their money on drugs and alcohol, then suddenly the costs of food, shelter, insurance, and other daily expenses will fall on you.
This can put a serious strain on the finances and well-being of both partners. If the problem is not addressed properly then this can increase the risk of issues like homelessness and poverty.
Cost of Addiction on Society
Another thing to consider is the cost of addiction in society. There are a number of ways that society is affected by people who struggle with addiction. These can be expensive and these expenses will eventually fall to the taxpayer.
- People who struggle with addiction are more likely to commit crimes. This can lead to the loss of property and damages to businesses which may cost a lot of money.
- The legal fees involved in managing criminals can be quite expensive. (Note the distinction between criminals and drug users — certainly not all drug users should be considered criminals, as it is the minority who commit dangerous or vandalistic acts to fuel their addictions).
- Homelessness is a common problem among drug users. Society must redirect resources into homeless shelters and soup kitchens to ensure that these struggling individuals don’t simply die.
- A lot of money is spent in an attempt to identify and stop the operations of drug pushers and cartels.
These are just a few of the more obvious costs of addiction in society.
Conclusion
Addiction is a very costly lifestyle, not only for the addicted individual but also for those who love them and society at large.
Addiction can affect nearly every aspect of an individual’s finances. Not only do they have to pay for the addiction itself, but they may become unable to work because of it. This, in addition to legal and health fees that they may incur, can pave the way towards poverty and homelessness.
Society must also pay for the actions of drug users and alcoholics. These costs will eventually filter down to the taxpayers.
If you or a loved one are struggling with an addiction, then perhaps this information can provide some incentive to seek help. Addiction is a very challenging process to overcome and it’s not always easy to do it on your own.
Source: https://www.bluecrestrc.com/the-many-financial-effects-of-addiction/
Article #4: 4 Ways Addiction Causes Financial Trouble (From Stepworks Recovery Centers)
By Brandon Duncan, June 2, 2017
Anyone struggling with a substance use problem learns that addiction causes financial trouble. Often these money problems come up in ways they might not have expected when they first began using addictive drugs. The consequences of an undiagnosed or untreated addiction eventually reach most or all aspects of one’s life. That translates to damaged relationships, personal health problems, unreached goals, a lack of direction, and other negative outcomes.
Because money problems and poverty create their own set of problems that can be difficult to find a way out of, it’s especially important to consider some different ways that addiction causes financial trouble. Here are five financial consequences of addiction that often drive people struggling with substance use further into desperate situations.
Addiction causes financial trouble because habits become expensive
We’ll start with the obvious: addictive substances cost money. But maybe there’s something not so obvious about this. In the first stages of drug misuse or dependency, it can be easy to see only the immediate cost of getting a substance. We don’t think about the long-term monetary costs of supporting an addiction because we don’t set out to become addicted to a drug. But if we develop an addiction, the costs add up…and up, and up.
Think about it: addiction is a chronic, progressive disease. The longer one maintains an addiction, the greater the quantity of drugs or alcohol one consumes on a regular basis. (Remember, tolerance increases with sustained use, so people usually have to use more of their drug of choice to get the high they’re looking for.) This means we need to think not only about the costs of buying drugs or alcohol adding up over time. We also need to be aware that drug habits may be exponentially more costly over time. The longer a dependency goes untreated, the worse one’s financial difficulties may be.
Addiction causes financial trouble through neglect and false priorities
It’s pretty easy to see the direct costs of drug or alcohol use, but there are a lot more indirect ways that addiction will eat into your pocketbook. Because of the way that addiction hijacks the brain’s reward system, those with addictions find it difficult to find the motivation to do many things they once had no problem doing. An addicted person’s brain doesn’t provide an internal feeling of satisfaction for doing simple things like meeting ordinary goals (for example, paying rent, finding a job, saving up for a desired vacation). Meeting financial obligations can fall by the wayside, and those struggling with addiction often find themselves trapped under a burden of penalties and other unexpected costs.
A little more directly, substance use problems often create problems for a person’s work life. It’s not uncommon for those addicted to drugs or alcohol to eventually find themselves a lot less productive at work, which of course can lead to job loss. Using drugs while at work is also a common reason for being fired and suddenly having no paycheck. It’s not like losing one’s job will cause someone to drop the drug use, either. Many continue to divert money needed for basic life needs into drugs and can easily fall into a deepening cycle of poverty and addiction.
Addiction often leads to other health problems
Having a chronic addiction is bad enough, but prolonged drug or alcohol use also comes with a host of other medical problems. People who don’t find a path to recovery will probably find themselves in a hospital bed sooner than they hoped. Medical complications from addiction can be extremely expensive, and there are so many medical problems that can be direct or indirect results of drug dependency.
Physical accidents may occur while one is inebriated, like traffic accidents, falls, or other results of lacking all your faculties. People under the influence of drugs or alcohol are more vulnerable to violence and many forms of abuse or assault. Those who use needles to inject drugs into their bodies are at special risk of getting bacterial infections that can lead to critical health problems. Most people know that alcoholism leads to acute liver damage and worse. These are just a few health complications of addiction that may require expensive medical treatments.
Addiction can create costly legal problems
Substance use problems frequently lead to legal trouble that will be another source of financial straits. Of course, many kinds of drugs or drug use are legally prohibited. In addition, dependency can lead to reckless, abusive, or desperate behavior that can also get one into trouble with the law.
Court costs and attorney fees can be a big burden on finances because they are often unexpected. Having to serve time in jail or prison can have lasting effects on people’s finances and their chances of finding decent-paying employment after their release. Getting into serious legal trouble can place you in a cycle of poor life prospects and bad choices. It’s important to recognize cycles of addiction, social costs, and addictive behavior so that one can make the right choice: seeking treatment and a new start in recovery.
It’s so easy to fall into financial difficulties even when you’re not dependent on using pricey substances; why make getting by even harder? We’ve only scratched the surface of the ways in which addiction causes financial trouble, but the message should be clear: using addictive substances just isn’t worth the costs.
Even if you’re already caught in a cycle of addiction and feeling the pain of compulsive use, there’s always a way out. Seeking help is the first step toward getting your financial security back on the right track.
Source: http://www.stepworks.com/2017/06/4-ways-addiction-causes-financial-trouble/
Article #5: Breaking Negative Behavior Patterns for True, Authentic Healing (From Northstar Transitions)
December 30, 2020
Addiction can turn you into a person you no longer recognize mentally, physically, and behaviorally. The person you were before substances may be gone as you take on negative behavior patterns to justify and maintain your addiction. Once you enter recovery, it is essential to learn how to disrupt these behavior patterns to facilitate healing. When you can learn about the negative behavior patterns that those struggling with addiction have, you can begin to recognize them in yourself and work past traumas and co-occurring disorders. This way, you can start to learn the necessary skills needed to cope and live a happy, sober life.
COMMON BEHAVIORS OF ADDICTION
Addiction is often defined by its constant seeking out of drugs and alcohol, placing other priorities on the back burner in place of the next high. Friends and family, work and school responsibilities, and other areas of your life will commonly take a backseat to your need for drugs and alcohol. You may become a person you no longer recognize, one that is willing to hurt the ones they love and sabotage what they have worked for merely for the next fix. The behaviors that enable addiction are typically the primary culprits of this change. Knowing what they are and recognizing them in yourself is the first step to disrupting these negative patterns and finding healing.
LYING
Those struggling with drug or alcohol addiction will commonly tell lies to others about where they have been, what they were doing, and what they are spending money on. Lying is a means of justifying an addiction — it keeps people from asking questions and keeps the individual from feeling guilty about how much they’re using. However, lies that continually build-up will eventually come crashing down, causing the person’s life to delve into chaos.
POINTING FINGERS AT OTHERS
When someone is amid active addiction, they typically do not want to blame their actions for the bad things happening in their life. As soon as individuals take responsibility for their actions, they have to admit that their drug and alcohol use negatively affects their lives. For example, if they get fired from their job, they will most likely shift blame to the boss for firing them “unfairly.” This applies to other cases, too, as the individual does not want to admit any wrongdoing. However, they will have to stop making excuses eventually as the consequences add up.
MANIPULATION
Those struggling with active addiction may know that what they are doing is wrong. However, they find ways to get around it by feeding off others’ kindness. Someone may even manipulate the ones closest to them that they love the most, the ones that would do anything to help them get better. As you crave another fix, you may tell your friends and family that you have everything under control, that they don’t understand, and that you can stop anytime you want. Satisfied with what you said, you then ask for money, and they will give it to you because they believe you. Unfortunately, this cycle can continue until it destroys relationships, and the person finally gets help to rebuild them. But even then, sometimes it is too late.
ABUSE
Another severe behavioral change that often occurs during active addiction is engaging in physical, mental, or emotional abuse. Those struggling may find themselves threatened by everyone around them, feeling that others are hindering them from using drugs or alcohol. Blame is placed on others, and anger is directed at those they love the most. This can result in attacks that cause problems for years, even after the person gets sober.
CHANGING THE BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS
When you have lived your life a certain way for so long, it can be challenging to know where to start when you want to make a significant change. Luckily, treatment facilities will aid you in this process as you can pinpoint negative behaviors. A great way to recognize and acknowledge them is to make a list of negative behaviors you realize you have been engaging in. From there, you can write down alternative actions. As you practice these in real life, continue working with your therapist, sponsor, and other sober friends throughout your recovery. Everyone can use support, and soon enough, you will shed your negative behaviors in light of more positive ones that are conducive to your recovery.
Addiction commonly brings out the worst in people as they try to justify and maintain their substance use over time, even at the expense of the ones they love and the things they have worked for. Individuals struggling with addiction often exhibit common behaviors such as lying, manipulating, shifting blame, and abuse. Once these individuals enter treatment, it can be challenging to shift their behaviors to enter into a new life and way of living. Facilities such as Northstar Transitions work specifically with clients to disrupt patterns that enable addiction. Northstar aids its clients in working through past traumas and co-occurring disorders to help them heal and learn healthier coping mechanisms, allowing them long-term sobriety. If you or someone you know is struggling, call Northstar Transitions today at (866) 407–2240. Together we can pinpoint your negative behavior patterns and help you turn your life around for a happy, healthy, sober life.
