Most people understand that substance abuse can be very
costly, but they usually do not think of this cost in monetary terms. When
people think about the costs of substance abuse, they usually envision health
problems. Although health problems are a cost of substance abuse, the monetary
costs of substance abuse are tremendous. When people begin to abuse drugs or
alcohol, they will begin to spend a lot of money to maintain their habit.
Drugs and alcohol can cost a person hundreds of dollars each
month. As people get more dependent on the drugs, the more money they will
spend. Not only will they spend money, but they also risk losing a lot of
money. For example, when the abuser cannot make it to work because he or she is
high or drunk, then this will lead to absences at work. If the person is not at
work, then there is no way he or she can make money. Furthermore, an excessive
number of absences can possibly lead to termination.
A second way that substance abuse can be costly is the
medical expenses it will create. The medical bills can occur for a number of
reasons. The primary reason is because substance abuse will lead to a decline
in a person’s health. Substance abuse can lead to cancer, high blood pressure,
liver problems, and even death. A secondary reason for medical costs is that
when the person is high or drunk, he or she increases his or her risk for
injury.
When people abuse drugs or alcohol, their insurance may be
more expensive. When people abuse these different substances, they may get
convictions for being intoxicated or impaired while driving. These types of
convictions can drastically raise a person’s insurance rates. Also, when people
are convicted of these crimes, insurance companies have the option to terminate
the policy. When the policy gets terminated, the person increases his or her
chances of being sued if an accident happens.
A final way that substance abuse can be costly is that it
leads to expensive legal fees. When people abuse these substances, they are
usually unaware of their actions. As a result, they tend to do things that will
cause them to get into trouble. Once this happens, they are dependent on a
lawyer to represent them; however, the lawyer will charge very expensive legal
fees in order to represent the person.
Author Bio
Hayley is a substance abuse counselor , author and blogger
residing in Florida. If you or someone you know is struggling with drug
addiction, visit http://www.gulfcoastdrugrehab.com/
For more information on the harmful
effects of drugs.
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