The cost of most drug and alcohol rehabs is a significant amount of money. It is not uncommon for the price of a residential treatment center to run $5000 to $10,000 per month or more. Therefore to go to rehab for 90 days, the recommended amount for severe addictions, you are looking at $20,000 to $30,000. A large number of families do not have this kind of money laying around for a rainy day. A very high percentage of people suffering with drug and alcohol addiction have no funds of their own to draw upon. So is it good practice to borrow money to help save the life of someone you love?

The obvious answer is yes, but with some very strong only ifs tagged to that yes. The first “only if” might be that the person with the addiction is seeking help of their own accord. Interventions, while they can be successful, are not as good as when someone themselves has made up their mind that enough is enough and has to change. Because borrowing this kind of money is a one time chance for many families, try to stack all the odds in your favor. The second “only if” might be that the client going to rehab has made a written, legal commitment to pay all or at least some of the money back themselves. People are always more careful with money of their own that is being spent, rather than someone else’s , especially if that someone else is a parent.

The third “only if” could be that the client with the addicition is well aware of the consequences of failure. Make it clear this is the only time the family will do this. Point out that while everyone will always love and emotionally support them, this is the one and only offer to fund rehab. Put this in writing again so there will be no confusion. By making the decision non-reversible and one time only, will add to the focus and drive of someone at rehab. It will also make sure they participate and care much more carefully about which rehab is chosen.

Going to rehab is not a guarantee. However doing nothing does come with a guarantee, that is will likely get worse. Borrowing to save someone you love may be the kindest most courageous thing a family can do.

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 19th, 2006 at 12:54 pm and is filed under Drug Addiction, Drug Rehab. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.