What Addiction Really Costs

Drug abuse can be very costly not only because of the high cost of drugs, but because of lost opportunities, time spent in jail, fines, medical expenses, legal fees and myriad of other costs. The real cost of addiction can be insanely high. Take a look at the following costs:

i) Court Fines

DUI is perhaps one of the most common crimes in the country with millions of cases reported nationwide every year. If you are found to be driving a vehicle while intoxicated (blood alcohol level over 0.08%), you can be arrested and charged with driving under the influence. Depending on whether its your first, second or third DUI offense, you can easily spend over $10,000 to cover the court fine, cost of legal representation, court fees and court-mandated alcohol prevention classes. If the court orders you to wear an alcohol monitoring bracelet, you will spend an extra $12/day.

ii) Medical Expenses

Addiction can damage some of your organs and affect your brain function. Assuming you do not do anything that may lead to contraction of or STI's, you will still find yourself making endless trips to the emergency room. From respiratory illnesses to liver and lung problems, you can easily max out on both the inpatient and outpatient coverage limits on your health insurance. In fact, you may find yourself paying cash for medical treatment before long. Pregnant women who are addicted to drugs, on the other hand, can cause both short and long term complications to the child.

iii) Loss of Employment

For many people, employment is the only source of income, but addiction can take that away. Most people who are addicted to drugs often lose their jobs because of incompetence, absenteeism or failing a drug test during mandatory drug screening. Chances of getting another job in the future can be very low due to a smudged record.

iv) Legal Representation

A decent lawyer will charge between $2,000 to $5,000 for a retainer on a misdemeanor drug offense and $5,000 to $15,000 for felony charges. Furthermore, you may still end up in jail. If found in possession of a gram or less of heroine or cocaine, you can spend a minimum of two years in state prison (in Texas).

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My Former Sister

Drug abuse affects everyone in a family.  I should know because I was in a family where drug abuse was a problem.  My sister had always been somewhat of a wild child.  Her partying ways only got worse when she went off to college.  She had managed to get a full scholarship, even though she was a party girl.

That first semester that she was gone she did fine.  Then it came time to pledge a sorority.  She started going to all the pledge parties on campus and off campus.  I am not sure which drug she tried first, I am not even sure which kind of drugs she tried.  I just know that she came out of pledge week a different person.

Her grades dropped and she lost her scholarship.  With no scholarship, she was forced to move back home.  She had to leave all her new friends behind.  Unfortunately, she did not leave the drug problem behind.  She brought it home to us.

My sister used to be sweet and kind, now she was mean and would lie at the drop of a hat.  Not only that, she would steal from my parents to get the drugs she needed.  My parents eventually had to kick her out of the house before she destroyed us all.