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Finances can be, well, stressful, even without substance use involved. It may make it difficult to relax or even reach out for help, especially when you need it the most.
Unfortunately, many individuals who struggle with addiction also struggle with their finances1. There are many reasons for this. Below, we take a closer look at why this happens and how you or a loved one can get help despite it.
Financial Stress and Addiction: What’s the Connection?
When you’re under chronic stress, your body stays flooded with cortisol and stays locked in a state of tension2. This can be exhausting. And substances, such as alcohol, opioids, or stimulants, may offer a temporary sense of relief, escape, or numbness.
On top of this, financial stress is one of the most common types of stressors in everyday life. Bills can pile up. Debt might feel like a mountain you can’t or don’t dare climb. Some may even lose their home. Taking substances, for many, takes the edge off. But it doesn’t make the problem go away.
It’s also worth noting that financial stress often comes bundled with other risk factors, such as poor sleep, isolation, shame, and strained relationships3. Each of these can make substance use more likely, and together they create the perfect conditions for addiction to take hold, as well as worsen one’s financial situation.
How Does Addiction Affect You Financially?
If financial stress can lead to addiction, addiction almost always deepens the financial hole. The relationship runs in both directions, and once the cycle starts, it can feel impossible to find a way out. But there is hope. Before we explore that, here’s why many people with substance use issues also struggle financially.
Increasing Costs of Substances
Addiction is expensive, and it rarely stays at the same price4. As tolerance builds, you need more of a substance to feel the same effect, which means spending more and more. And while it may have started as an occasional expense, it can quickly grow into a daily cost that consumes a significant share of your income.
Lost Income and Job Stability
Substance use can chip away at your ability to show up and perform at work. This can result in missed shifts, declining productivity, and strained workplace relationships. In turn, this may lead to lost wages, missed promotions, and even job loss.
For many individuals, this is one of the most destabilizing financial consequences. You may lose your income, but your expenses often don’t just disappear.
Increasing Debt and Hidden Expenses
It’s easy to turn to credit cards, loans, or even borrowing from family and friends. But the debt can pile up quickly.
On top of this come the less obvious costs, such as legal fees, medical bills from health complications, and the price of neglected responsibilities, including car repairs or late rent. In fact, these hidden expenses can add up to far more than the substances themselves.
Strain on Family and Household Finances
Addiction can be layered in secrecy. One might use up their family’s savings to fuel their substance use. Bills may go unpaid. And, in turn, strain upon the relationships you cherish the most may emerge and add another layer of stress.
Taking the First Step Toward Freedom
When financial stress and addiction feed each other, it can feel like there’s no clear place to step off the wheel. The good news is that the cycle can be interrupted, and you don’t have to fix everything at once to start. Treating the addiction is often the most powerful first move, because it removes the engine driving the financial damage and frees up energy you can put toward rebuilding.
At Freedom Recovery Centers (FRC), our team can help you get the treatment you need. We can also help you navigate the financial restraints holding you back, offering different pathways toward a happier and healthier life. The truth is treating your addiction also tends to treat the financial issues that seem ever-mounting. Call us today at 804-635-3746 to learn more, or fill out our online form.
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