We began this blog post series by looking at how to get the support you need to succeed after drug rehab, and fighting relapse, and creating your own treatment plan in order to stay on track in your recovery. Today, we look at one of the biggest issues facing those who opted for financing to pay for their drug addiction treatment: how to pay back what you owe while remaining dedicated to your recovery.

Debt and Recovery: Finding Balance

Many people take out a large loan to cover the full cost of their drug rehab bill when health insurance is either non-existent or doesn’t cover the full amount. And most in active addiction have a fair share of bills well before they even begin the process of paying for drug addiction treatment. Handling this debt may not be easy but it’s possible to handle it without minimal stress and low risk to your recovery. Here’s how:

• Contact those you owe. Call credit card companies. Call your financing company. Explain your job situation and let them know what you can pay going forward. Ask for a reprieve on interest or a lower interest rate, and let them know that you are in recovery for a medical illness and will need more time to pay back what you owe.
• Consider debt consolidation. Non-profit debt consolidation companies are often a solid way to handle overwhelming debt when you can’t manage the minimum payments. Most will contact those you owe and negotiate a lower interest rate and set a repayment period, allowing you to make one payment that they disburse among your creditors. NOTE: Avoid debt settlement companies at all costs. These ask you to break contracts and often result in lawsuits.
• Create a budget. Figure out what you need to pay rent, bills, and food as well as the payments for each person you owe. Assign any extra funds to pay off the smallest debt first so that you can get rid of a bill. Once that first bill is paid off, make that payment to the next smallest debt on your list until that, too, is gone. Stick to it!
• Consider a second job. Don’t overwork yourself so that you are no longer prioritizing your physical health or your drug addiction recovery, but if you can’t handle the minimums and you can’t get the companies to lower the amount of your monthly bill, consider getting a second job until you can make some headway.

Handling Finances in Drug Addiction Recovery

No matter what your job situation, make sure to stay in contact with your financing company. If you go through a hard time, ask if you can lower your payments for a period. If you get a job that pays more than expected, make an effort to pay off the loan early so that you can more quickly be released from debt. In the meantime, if you don’t have a job you love, consider getting the education you need to move forward or changing locations if you get a job offer. Paying bills is important but doing so by doing a job you love is even moreso to your recovery!

Tags: after drug rehab, drug addiction help, drug addiction recovery, paying for drug rehab

   

About Valeria W.

       

Valeria W. likes to consider herself "an encyclopedia" of addiction and rehab knowledge. Valeria lives to hear from people who have been positively influenced by her work - and sought out drug or alcohol rehab help as a result of the information she has provided.

Also written by: Valeria W.