Getting Finances Back on Track After Rehab

Utilizing Financial Resources

Some people may feel that their situation is so dire that no one can help them, leading them to avoid getting treatment. However, rehab-administered programs can provide efficient referrals, documentation, and waivers to help re-open pathways toward independence and self-sufficiency.

Rebuilding a life after addiction requires a solid steppingstone to progress. Unfortunately, some people can lose skillsets to addiction, resulting from the drug’s effect on brain functionality.

Thankfully, patients can learn new skill sets while participating in rehab programs.

Building a New Skill Set

Many people lose their job and ability to perform job duties and have no source of income left. However, rehabilitation facilities can offer financial assistance with skill-building classes, such as job skill training and career coaching.

Some rehab centers even offer job placement programs that specialize in finding employment for recovered drug addicts with program completion documentation. It’s also possible to go back to school while you’re in recovery to start a career. 

These financial resources are practical tools to help release some of the financial burdens of recovering addicts. Addiction can take away everything from someone; rehabilitation and treatment programs can bring back some of it.

How to Practice Financial Safety

Life after addiction is hard enough. Creating “safety nets” and boundaries to protect oneself outside rehab is crucial to avoiding relapse. Therefore, it is vital to identify and eliminate potential triggers and avenues to use drugs again.

Depending on the severity of someone’s addiction, financial safety nets can ask a trusted family member or friend to safeguard their finances to prevent dangerous or unnecessary spending. Not only would this protect them from buying drugs, but it can also help to re-train their brain’s risk-reward calculator.

Chronic substance use can damage the brain’s risk-reward calculator, which determines whether something is worth the risk to obtain or do. When that calculator is damaged, people can become unpredictable when making decisions.

Therefore, recoverees must make strategic financial decisions to protect themselves.

Next Step Prepaid Card

Some people may be too uncomfortable leaving all of their finances in someone else’s hands. In that case, there is an option that may be better suited.

Next Step prepaid card is a specialized financial tool that only works under specific instructions. The administrator would be an appointed family member or trusted individual that would determine where and when recoverees could use this card.

This option would allow recovering addicts not to lose all sense of independence while protecting them from misusing their finances for drugs.

The Next Step prepaid card is completely customizable. However, this card does not permit cash back benefits to work as a protective safety net.

The use configurations consist of where recoverees can use the card, when purchases are allowed, and tracks its frequency. These configurations exist to provide boundaries and promote healthy finances.

In addition, this specialized financial tool can also reinforce risk-reward calculating skills to lead to healthier spending habits in the future eventually.

Maintaining a Healthy Wallet

Rebuilding a life after addiction is hard, and those recovering need support to maintain success. However, financial independence is possible for anyone with practice and patience.

A person can maintain good financial standing by:

1. adhering to spending limits
2. keeping strict transactional documentation
3. maintain awareness of financial income to output ratio
4. staying sober
5. create and strive toward financial goals

Additionally, continued support beyond rehab is highly encouraged. Group meetings and mainstream financial advisors or mentors are a great way to stay optimistic about a person’s economic standing.

Governmental programs offering food and cash assistance provide temporary support for those struggling to meet their basic needs. In addition, there are agents available to help people fill out an application for benefits.

Are You Struggling with Finances After Rehab?

If you or someone you know struggles with financial health after rehab, please consider contacting an agent for more information.

Save yourself time and money by getting help to reach your financial independence goals.

Sources

[1] 2019 National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Releases | CBHSQ Data (samhsa.gov)

[2] How to Stay Sober After Rehab: Managing Your Finances (cenikor.org)
[3] The Ultimate [Guide] to Get Into Rehab With No Money – A Better Today Recovery Services (abtrs.com)