Addiction is a devastating disease, but it harms a lot more than just the addict or alcoholic themselves—family members, friends, and the community they live in are also affected, and it’s rare that the effect is small.
How Addiction Harms Families, Businesses, and Communities
Addiction rips families apart, separating children from their parents, fueling divorces, or causing family members to cut off the addict or alcoholic entirely. If both parents struggle with addiction, their children are 800% more likely than the average person to become an addict themselves.
And even if they don’t become an addict or alcoholic, those children are more likely to have been abused, more likely to become homeless, and more likely to have mental health, financial, and marital problems as they grow up.
Businesses also suffer. Good employees are often stolen from them by addiction, and the cost of supporting an addict or alcoholic as they attempt to get sober—often multiple times—is high, with no guarantee of success.
Communities are affected as well. It’s estimated that around 66% of people suffering from homelessness also have a history of drug and alcohol abuse, and over 80% of people who commit a crime that ends in jail or prison time were using or drinking at the time.
When someone who has been suffering from addiction achieves and maintains sobriety, the positive impact extends way beyond their personal life. Here are 5 of the many ways one person’s journey to sobriety can benefit everyone around them.
1. Reducing Crime
Substance abuse and criminal behavior are heavily linked. Many addicts and alcoholics fund their habit by stealing—from family members, friends, and strangers—or through dealing drugs.
Breaking into homes, robbing people on the street, stealing from businesses, committing various forms of fraud, and engaging in prostitution are also common methods of getting money to get high or drunk.
This not only perpetuates a cycle of addiction but also creates a serious burden on law enforcement and the criminal justice system.
Many of these activities are also directly dangerous to the addict or alcoholic, making them more likely to be hurt, killed, or end up with a dangerous or incurable disease.
2. Reducing the Strain on Healthcare Systems
Substance abuse takes a huge toll on a person’s physical and mental health. From chronic diseases like liver cirrhosis and heart disease to acute health crises like overdoses, addiction places a significant strain on healthcare systems.
Emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and long-term care for addiction-related health problems can overwhelm local healthcare resources. It’s not uncommon for detox and rehabilitation centers to be completely full for weeks on end, meaning fewer people get the help they need.
Every addict or alcoholic who gets sober and stays that way reduces the strain on addiction-focused healthcare resources and on the healthcare system in general.
3. Strengthening Families and Communities
When a family member achieves sobriety, it can help the entire family to heal and grow. It can also entirely eliminate abuse and neglect.
By prioritizing their recovery, people can rebuild trust, improve communication, and create a more stable home environment.
This not only benefits the immediate family but also has a ripple effect on the larger community, making neighbors feel safer and eliminating all the issues that can come from having an addict or alcoholic acting out in a neighborhood.
Many addicts and alcoholics become active in their communities through volunteer work, directly improving the places where they live.
4. Improving the Workforce
People struggling with addiction often have difficulty maintaining steady employment, leading to lost productivity and a reduced workforce. Additionally, the financial strain of supporting an addiction can lead to poverty, homelessness, and reliance on public assistance programs.
When people achieve and maintain sobriety, they are better equipped to become employed and stay that way. By showing up to work consistently, doing their work effectively, and contributing to the local economy, people in recovery help to create a stronger, more productive workforce.
This, in turn, can attract new businesses, stimulate economic growth, and improve the overall financial health of the community. Many addicts and alcoholics start businesses of their own and hire employees, further strengthening the local economy.
5. Inspiring Others to Get Sober
One of the most incredible benefits of one person achieving sobriety is the potential to inspire hope in others who are still struggling with addiction. By openly sharing their stories and experiences, people in recovery can serve as powerful examples of the transformative potential of sobriety.
As people in recovery become more involved in their communities, they often look for ways to give back and support others on their journey to sobriety.
This can take the form of mentorship, sponsorship in 12-step programs, or volunteering with local recovery organizations. By creating a network of support and encouragement, those in recovery help to create a more compassionate and understanding community.
Start Your Journey to Sobriety
The positive effects of one person’s sobriety extend far beyond their individual life. By breaking free from the chains of addiction, you can set in motion a series of positive changes that ripple outward, touching the lives of your family members, your friends, and your community.
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, we can help. Learn more about what sober living is like here, or read about what it’s like to live at Solutions of North Texas here.