Dealing with an addiction in a loved one can be a roller coaster. It’s common to try to rationalize and normalize your loved one’s addiction and behavior, to make excuses for them, or to try and minimize the severity of the addiction.
However, once you know your loved one is indeed dealing with an addiction, don’t delay in helping them get into treatment. While rehab programs may often be pricey, the cost of allowing them to continue being controlled by their addiction could be much higher.
How Much Does Rehab Cost?
Everyone’s journey to lifelong recovery is unique, so it’s impossible to find one definitive number on how much rehabilitation costs. Some people may find success in an outpatient program while others may relapse and require multiple rounds of treatment. These programs can be quite costly, but most facilities offer some sort of financial aid or financing option. Beyond the cost of the program, your loved one may also require expensive medications if they suffer from an alcohol or opioid addiction.
Outpatient programs – Outpatient programs tend to be the most cost-effective option for recovering addicts and work best for mild to moderate addictions. The price on these programs varies depending on how often the person visits the treatment center and for how long, but most 3-month programs in the US tend to cost around $5,000.
Inpatient programs – These programs are excellent for removing an addict from their usual environment and providing them with a clean slate that they can build new habits on. Inpatient programs typically last 30 to 90 days and the cost can range from $6,000 to $60,000.
Sober living – For many recovering addicts, a transition period between inpatient living and returning to normal life is helpful for reducing the likelihood of relapse. The cost varies depending on location but rent may be as low as $450 per month or as high as $10,000 per month.
How Much Does Addiction Cost?
The substance – Depending on which drug your loved one is doing and how frequently they’re using, the hard cost of the substance itself can be quite high. For example, on the low end, a person with a severe meth addiction may spend upwards of $12,000 per year on their addiction, while a frequent user of cocaine may spend nearly $170,000 per year on drugs.
Healthcare – If a person is addicted to drugs, chances are they aren’t seeing their doctor for regular checkups. However, if they require emergency medical care (for example in the event of an overdose), they may be stuck with a large bill depending on whether they have insurance.
The cost of losing a life – The most important thing to remember when dealing with an addicted loved one is that, even if they may seem to be functioning well enough day-to-day, their life is always on the line. While many people may overdose on a substance and live to tell the tale, many are not that lucky. In 2018, 67,367 people died of a drug overdose in the United States alone.