Addiction Treatment Is Too Expensive
For a long time I would refuse to go to any kind of treatment for my addiction. There were a few reasons why I felt treatment was not going to work, but the main one was, it’s too expensive. What I didn’t know, was that my addiction to alcohol and drugs was costing me more than I could ever imagine. The rationale I created for why I shouldn’t spend money on treatment would almost kill me.
How much is my life worth?
I had made up my mind on how much treatment was going to cost me, even before I called any helpline or engaged my insurance company. I based my ideas and beliefs on unfounded evidence and contempt prior to investigation. I would spew loads of nonsensical garbage to my family and friends on how I felt treatment was a waste of time and money, and I would assure them, this time I would be able to stay clean and sober on my own. After numerous times relapsing, even with firm resolution to stop, my sister finally turned to me and said these ground breaking words, “How much is your life worth?”
She then went on to say, “You keep talking about how much getting help will cost you, but how much have you spent so far the way you are living?” I thought about it for moment and calculated some numbers and spit them right back to her, with the utmost confidence, “Not as much as I would on inpatient and outpatient treatment!” I really believed what I was saying. Her reply was simple: “I don’t know Ash, if it were my life on the line, I don’t think anything would stop me from investing in it.”
An investment? I never looked at it that way before; it was a true investment into my life. This wasn’t a car or a house, it wasn’t anything material. This was a chance at a new life!
My Addiction cost me more than I thought
My sister’s words really struck me, and over the next few days I would be thinking long and hard about it. Pen to paper, I wrote down actual costs of drinking and using for one year; this is what I found:
- Money spent on Alcohol & Drugs: $10,000.00
- Money spent on transportation to obtain my Alcohol/Drugs: $600.00
- Money lost from absences from work &/or termination: $50,000.00
- Money spent on legal fees/consequences from Alcohol/Drug related events: $6,000.00
- Money spent on transportation issues: i.e. accidents, towing, etc: $15,000.00
- Money spent in hospitals &/or Doctor visits: $40,000.00
- Money owed to credit agencies &/or family: $30,000.00
- Miscellaneous costs associated with drinking & using: $10,000.00
Total true costs: $161,600.00
Once I saw these figures in front of me, it was hard to deny the money wasted and/or never obtained as a result of my drinking and using. Even with rounding out and going under on costs, I was sickened by what I saw. I couldn’t believe that I was so willing to spend that kind of money and give up opportunities in my career to live the way I was living. I was so sure treatment was too expensive; I was so very wrong.
It didn’t matter how much treatment cost anymore, because I wasn’t even trying to seek help or find out. In order for me to get the very best treatment I deserved, I needed to start looking and researching my options. I ended up doing just that, and to my surprise found treatment was not only obtainable but absolutely worth it . My investment has given me more than I could ever have asked for. I have a life beyond my wildest imagination. Taking suggestions and putting the effort into my recovery, I found that my life, which was once unmanageable, somehow seemed to just work itself out.
So I ask you, how much is your life worth? Because what I discovered is it’s at least worth looking into getting help.
