The Financial Advantages of Entering Recovery and Working with a Private Addiction Counselor

I’ve spent many years helping individuals throughout California—from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Sacramento—and in Oregon, including Portland, Salem, and Eugene, overcome challenges related to drug and alcohol abuse. As a private addiction counselor offering private substance abuse coaching, I’ve seen firsthand how recovery not only improves mental and physical well-being but also leads to significant financial benefits. While the human and emotional toll of addiction is incalculable, there are very real monetary factors worth considering when deciding to enter recovery.

Below, I’ll share my perspective on the financial advantages of committing to a treatment plan and how working with a private counselor like myself could be one of the best investments you ever make. Let’s explore why.

1. Assessing the Costs of Addiction

The Price of Heavy Drinking or Drug Use

For someone with a heavy drinking habit, expenses can accumulate quickly—whether it’s daily trips to the liquor store, nights out in bars across Los Angeles, or weekend binges in Portland. The cost of drugs can be similarly staggering for individuals wrestling with substance dependence. These expenditures add up fast, often running into the thousands of dollars over just a few months.

Potential Medical and Legal Costs

When substance use escalates, other costs often follow:

• Hospital visits due to alcohol poisoning, overdoses, or accidents.

• DUI (Driving Under the Influence) charges and related legal fees.

• Incarceration costs if legal troubles escalate.

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Beyond these, there is the frightening possibility of losing your job or being unable to work because of health issues or ongoing legal battles. In California and Oregon—states known for competitive job markets—losing employment can prove devastating financially. From my vantage point as a private addiction counselor, I’ve seen individuals spend tens of thousands of dollars in a matter of months due to repeated DUIs, legal fees, bail bonds, and lost wages.

The Toll on Family and Relationships

It’s impossible to put a dollar figure on the emotional distress addiction causes families—spouses, children, parents, and friends all bear the weight. Strained relationships can lead to divorce, child custody battles, and other legal disputes, each with its own set of expenses and emotional scars. The emotional toll is priceless; you simply cannot put a number on the pain or the potential loss of close family bonds and friendships.

2. The Cost of Private Counseling or Addiction Coaching

Now, let’s consider the investment in working with a private counselor like myself, serving both California (Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, San Francisco) and Oregon (Portland, Salem, Eugene).

• Initial Assessment: $300

• Ongoing Weekly Sessions: $150 per session

For six months of private counseling or addiction coaching, assuming one initial assessment and weekly sessions, here’s what the total might look like:

• Initial Assessment: $300

• Six Months of Weekly Sessions (24 sessions at $150 each): $3,600

  • (If there happen to be 26 weeks in that 6-month period, it would be $3,900 plus the initial assessment.)

In total, you’re looking at roughly $3,900 to $4,200 over six months, depending on the exact number of sessions. Compared to the cumulative expenses of a sustained heavy drinking or drug habit, plus potential hospital visits, DUI fees, and lost income, private counseling can be a fraction of the cost. Also, it’s an investment in your future—financially, emotionally, and physically.

Now, let's calculate the Cost of Daily Alcohol Use Over Time

Consider a scenario where someone drinks a single bottle of wine, a 12-pack of White Claws, or a 12-pack of beer every day. For a bottle of wine at $15 per day, that equates to roughly $2,730 over six months (15 x 182 days), $5,475 over one year (15 x 365), and an astounding $109,500 over 20 years (5,475 x 20). By comparison, a daily 12-pack of White Claws at $24 per day would cost $4,368 in six months (24 x 182), $8,760 in one year (24 x 365), and $175,200 across 20 years (8,760 x 20). Even at the lower end—a 12-pack of beer at $13 each day—one would still spend $2,366 over six months (13 x 182), $4,745 in a year (13 x 365), and $94,900 after 20 years (4,745 x 20). These figures don’t even account for potential legal fees, medical expenses, or lost wages resulting from alcohol-related problems—further underscoring how investing in private counseling can be far more cost-effective in the long run.

3. Why Private Counseling Is Worth the Investment

Tailored and Flexible

When you work with me as your private addiction counselor, your sessions are fully customized. We set goals specific to your life—whether you’re an executive in Silicon Valley, a busy parent in San Diego, or a student in Eugene. We can work around your schedule and the intensity of therapy you need. This allows for a flexible approach that you may not find in larger treatment centers or public programs.

Complete Confidentiality

Privacy is a key reason many of my clients choose private substance abuse coaching. Sessions are strictly between you and me. For professionals, public figures, or individuals who simply wish to keep their personal journey discreet, private counseling offers a level of confidentiality that group-based treatment or public programs might not provide.

Expert, One-on-One Time

I bring years of experience as a substance abuse treatment expert and certified addiction specialist to every session. Because it’s just you and me, all your treatment time is dedicated exclusively to you—no sharing time with others, no splitting focus among group members. This individualized attention often leads to more efficient and targeted progress.

4. Calculating the True Value of Recovery

While I’ve outlined specific financial costs, the true value of recovery extends far beyond money. Still, the numbers do highlight why entering recovery sooner rather than later can preserve your financial stability and protect the well-being of your loved ones.

1. Avoiding Significant Legal Fees: Legal costs for a single DUI in California or Oregon can easily exceed $10,000 once you factor in fines, increased insurance premiums, and potential attorney fees.

2. Maintaining or Improving Employment: Keeping a stable job is essential. A dependable paycheck in expensive areas like San Francisco or Portland can be the difference between financial security and crisis.

3. Preventing Medical Emergencies: Hospitalizations for alcohol poisoning or a drug overdose can lead to massive bills—even with insurance.

4. Safeguarding Your Family’s Future: Whether it’s saving for college, paying a mortgage, or simply maintaining a stable household, recovery can ensure your family’s financial future remains intact.

   
   

Think of what your life would look like if you continue down the path of heavy drinking or drug use. Now envision that same life—healthier, employed, free from legal troubles, and mentally more stable. The difference is night and day.

5. The Incalculable Costs

No matter how many dollars we assign to medical bills, legal issues, or therapy, we can’t put a price on the pain addiction inflicts on families and relationships. As someone who has supported numerous individuals and families through healing, I’ve seen marriages saved, parent-child relationships rebuilt, and personal self-worth restored. These moments of transformation are priceless and are at the very heart of why I do what I do.

6. Why Act Now?

If you’re contemplating whether the cost of private counseling is “worth it,” consider how quickly addiction expenses can add up. Consider the risk of losing your job in Los Angeles, facing DUI charges in Portland, or straining family ties in San Francisco. Each day that passes can multiply these risks, pushing a person further into financial and emotional debt.

• Invest in Yourself: Recovery isn’t just about stopping substance use; it’s about preserving your livelihood, your health, and your most cherished relationships.

• Take Charge of Your Future: The sooner you address addiction, the quicker you can return to a path of stability, success, and emotional health.

7. Conclusion

When I reflect on the many clients I’ve worked with as a private addiction counselor—whether through private substance abuse coaching in California or Oregon—it’s clear that entering recovery pays off in every sense of the word. Financially, the cost of a structured six-month private counseling plan pales in comparison to the ongoing expenses, potential legal issues, and emotional turmoil of unchecked addiction.

From Los Angeles and Sacramento to Salem and Eugene, individuals are discovering that the investment in private counseling ultimately saves money, protects families, and preserves futures. If you’re on the fence about seeking help, know this: you can’t put a price on regaining your life, mending relationships, and reestablishing financial security. The choice is yours—and I’m here to guide you, every step of the way.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Contact me to schedule your initial $300 assessment and discuss how private, one-on-one sessions can help you overcome addiction. Together, we’ll create a plan to move you toward freedom from substance abuse—saving you far more than money in the long run.

--- Michael O'Brien, CADC II, NCAC I, Certified Addiction Specialist and Private Substance Abuse Counselor Serving California and Oregon