The True Cost Of Addiction

What Can Addiction Cost You?

Addiction occurs when you continue to use a substance or engage in a behavior that is unhealthy, even though you experience negative consequences. Even when you desire or attempt to quit, it can feel impossible, and you may relapse.

Common addictions include prescription opioids, illicit drugs, alcohol, gambling addiction, sex addiction, social media addiction, and internet addictions. With addiction, you may develop a dependence on a substance or activity. You may notice physical or mental withdrawal symptoms when you go without or try to stop. These symptoms can range from mild to severe and may interfere with your ability to function. Withdrawal symptoms are often the primary cause of relapse.

Addiction negatively affects every area of your life, costing you relationships, financial stability, health, and even your dreams. Addiction also affects your friends, family, coworkers, and many others who care about you.

The Financial Cost Of Addiction

Having an addiction can be costly on a personal level. The price of drugs rises each year, causing some to turn to illicit drugs to obtain the effects they seek. Illicit substances can be costly, as well. Examples of drug costs include the following:

• 1 gram of marijuana can cost up to $20
• 1 gram of cocaine can cost up to $120
• 1 gram of crack cocaine can cost up to $80
• 1 gram of heroin can cost between $20 and $400
• 1 pharmaceutical opioid pill can cost between $2 and $60
• 1 ecstasy pill can cost up to $35
• 1 dose of LSD can cost over $20

Alcoholic drinks can cost a few dollars for a single beer and closer to $15-20 for a mixed drink. Buying bottles or cases of alcohol is much more costly. Some people with an addiction mix alcohol with drugs, further increasing the cost. Those who gamble or engage in online gaming can lose hundreds of dollars or more in just a few hours.

Many people with an addiction are not able to hold down a job, minimizing the amount of money they can earn to purchase drugs. Depending on the severity of their addiction, some people may spend hundreds of dollars daily to meet their needs. Without employment, this may lead some people to obtain money for their addiction in ways they would not do if they were sober.

Additional financial impacts include:

• Job loss
• Missed opportunities for promotions or raises
• Lower productivity
• Failed academic or educational courses

Financial losses like these can hinder you from reaching your life goals, both personally and professionally. Until you enter recovery, addiction makes it nearly impossible to achieve economic success.

The Emotional Cost Of Addiction

Addiction plays a significant role in emotional dysregulation due to the way drugs, alcohol, and engaging in some behaviors alter how the brain functions. Specifically, the brain releases more dopamine and other feel-good chemicals when using substances or engaging in activities that induce a high. Over time, the brain cannot function independently and becomes dependent on the substance or activity. When you go without the substance, the brain responds, leading to emotional issues.

Examples of the emotional costs of addiction include:

• Lower self-esteem
• Emotional instability
• An increase in mental health symptoms
• Worsening of psychological conditions

Addiction is associated with higher levels of anxiety, depression, stress, and mood swings, and dual diagnosis is common. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 21.5 million Americans have co-occurring disorders.

The Physical Cost Of Addiction

The physical toll of drug abuse can have long-lasting effects. From the moment you begin misusing substances or engaging in unhealthy behaviors, your physical health pays the price. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, addiction leads to many long-term health effects, including:

• Lung disease
• Heart issues
• Stroke
• Cancer
• Mental health disorders
• Skin conditions or abscesses

Those with an addiction are at higher risk of contracting infections and diseases, like hepatitis, especially those who share needles or paraphernalia. In addition, addiction increases the risk of accidents, injuries, overdoses, and fatalities.

Supporting an addiction becomes a top priority over maintaining a healthy body and mind. Someone may also experience issues connected to specific substances like meth mouth, coke nose,  and bladder issues caused by ketamine.

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What Are The Eventual Costs Of Untreated Addiction?

When addiction goes untreated, it starts a domino effect that begins with the individual and extends into society. A person’s addiction impacts everyone around them at home, work, school, and socially.

A report from the White House states that the costs of the opioid epidemic are staggering. The data shows the following costs to the United States:

• $1.11 trillion in losses of life
• $1.34 trillion in loss of quality of life
• $107 billion to the healthcare system
• $107 billion in loss of productivity in the labor force
• $63 billion in crime-related costs

These statistics only represent the costs of opioid use and misuse, not other drugs, alcohol, or behavioral addictions. Aside from the astronomical societal costs, addiction interferes dramatically with your personal life.

Hurting Family And Loved Ones

Many people with addictions think they are only hurting themselves by using drugs or alcohol or engaging in unhealthy behaviors. This is not true; addiction impacts everyone in your life, especially your family. Family and friends lose trust in their loved one with an addiction. Relationships quickly break down, and the distance between them grows.

Many family members suffer from the adverse mental health effects of addiction because it is difficult to watch the person they love lose themselves in their addiction. Because they can’t help, they often feel depressed. Some family members become codependent, which can lead to a lack of healthy boundaries.

Some of the most common results of addiction include breakups or divorces, custody issues, estrangement, and generational trauma. The sooner you enter recovery treatment, the less impact addiction will have on your relationships.

Losing Quality Friends

Friendships are one of the most heartbreaking social consequences of addiction. You can lose quality friendships you developed over many years because you spend more time with other people who have addictions. It is easier to surround yourself with people who will not try to stop you from supporting your addiction.

Once quality friendships are lost, it is challenging to rebuild them. You must enter recovery and earn their trust again. However, it is healthy friendships that can help you maintain long-term sobriety.

Not Reaching Your Full Potential

Addiction hinders your ability to reach your goals and dreams. It makes it hard to even get through a single day, let alone finish school, secure a promotion, build relationships, or achieve financial success.

Addiction puts you at risk for legal problems, which can further prevent you from reaching personal or professional goals. Many professions require you not to have any legal issues in your past. Addiction leads to absences, tardiness, and missed opportunities. It can convince you that you will never be successful, destroying your self-esteem and making you want to give up on your dreams.

Entering treatment for addiction means recovering from the physical toll of drug abuse and dealing with the social consequences of addiction so you can live a better life. In recovery, you learn the skills to deal with the mental health effects of addiction, avoid relapsing, and set new goals. You can overcome addiction and reach your potential in all areas of your life.

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Find Addiction Treatment Today

Fortunately, addiction treatment is available to help you minimize the cost of addiction on your life and start recovery today. The first step is to receive a comprehensive evaluation to determine the type and severity of your addiction. The evaluation results help your treatment team create the best treatment plan to meet your needs and preferences. For some, that may mean detox or inpatient rehab. For others, it may mean an outpatient program.

To get started, contact a treatment provider who can answer your rehab-related questions and help you explore your treatment options. Addiction does not have to cost you anything else. Enter recovery today and get back to living up to your full potential.