“No one is immune from addiction; it afflicts people of all ages, races, classes, and professions.”
– Patrick J. Kennedy
Being at the top of one’s field doesn’t protect someone from substance use. Around 5,127,000 adults in California were diagnosed with substance use disorders in 2021. These people ranged from individuals experiencing poverty to those with high-earning salaries. At Pacific Sands, we understand that this disorder does not discriminate, and not everyone comes to it the same way. Today, we are going to discuss how addiction and socioeconomic status interact with each other.
How Do Addiction and Socioeconomic Status Correlate?
Substance use disorders are not just for individuals who work in blue-collar occupations or even those who are homeless or below the poverty line. They can impact white-collar, high-paying salary workers as well. Like Kennedy said, “No one is immune.” How someone developed this disorder or the specific impacts the disorder has can vary depending on socioeconomic status.
Are There Different Substance Use Risk Factors Based On Your Socioeconomic Group?
There are some risk factors that everyone who develops a substance use disorder can experience. For example, having an untreated mental health concern may result in someone having a higher risk of considering substances as a way to manage stress.
Regardless of socioeconomic status, anyone may have a genetic element that puts them at a greater chance of developing this disorder. Most people who develop a substance use disorder do so when they are younger, and it can continue as the person ages. Some risk factors are more likely to occur in certain groups than others.
Risk Factors That Any Tax Bracket Can Experience
As human beings, there are some things everyone can experience that may lead to an increase in developing a substance use disorder. Some of these things may include:
- Domestic, childhood, or community violence
- Family conflicts
- Mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety
- Other substance use
- Substances are readily available, though what this looks like can vary depending on the class
Risk Factors Unique to Each Socioeconomic Class
However, some things are more likely to occur in certain socioeconomic classes than others. Below is a list with some of these differences:
Poverty
- Instability
- Lack of access to medical care
- Lack of access to education
- Substances may be accessible at home or from peer groups
Middle Class
- Bullying
- Poor academic performance
- Media Exposure
- Substances may come from friends/extra income
High-Earners
- Stress from long workdays
- Introduction to substances in high school or college
- Academic pressure to continue to achieve
- Easy access to money for substances
A study aimed to examine substance use across socioeconomic statuses. In that study, they found that 27% of the people at the lower end of the income spectrum smoked cigarettes. In this group, 50% of their parents dropped out of high school. On the other end of the spectrum, 76% of the people at the higher end of income drank alcohol, with 47% of their parents having completed college. This indicates there may be a relationship between the substance of choice and one’s parents’ educational background, as it can relate to how wealth and income impacted them growing up.
What Does Addiction Look Like Among High-Earning Professionals?
In 2020, business and financial operations saw 10.9 out of 100,000 people die from an overdose, while at the management level, it was 18.6. While substance use disorder happens less often for someone in a high-earning career than it does for someone in the middle and lower classes. It can and does happen for many. Getting to where you are and maintaining that position can be challenging. Turning to substances as a way to cope may feel like the best option. If you combine substances with your career, it can lead to many concerns. When someone has a substance use disorder, it often begins to take over their lives to the point where very little can fit in.
Substance Use of Choice in High-Income Populations
While anyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status, can take any substance, there are some substances that may be more likely to be used in certain classes. A study was designed to explore this for higher-income people. In it, they found that people of higher socioeconomic status were more likely to develop alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine use disorders. There were no significant indications that people in upper-class populations tended to use methamphetamine and other substances more often than those of lower socioeconomic status.
How Can Addiction Treatment Change Based on Your Income?
Having untreated addiction can lead to many concerns in someone’s life. They may be more likely to be absent from work or important events, or they may be more likely to get into accidents at work or on the way to work. Experiencing an accident may lead to them taking more time off work or even missing important deadlines. Having a substance use disorder can also result in concerns with focusing or performing your job at a high level.
Attending a treatment program that meets your needs and benefits your desires can get you back on track. They will provide you with the tools and life skills that will make finding recovery easier. You will learn healthy coping skills that you can utilize when the stresses of a high-paying job come up. Depending on your socioeconomic status, where that treatment comes from, or even how you pay for it will vary.
Those in Poverty
People who are experiencing poverty are often on Medicaid. This means they are often limited to places that will accept this payment option. Those locations can sometimes have a limit on how many people they can take on Medicaid, so it often involves people searching and calling multiple locations to find one that will help them now. Most people don’t continue to call more than one place. They might deem it as something that was not meant to be. If they do reach out for help, it may be through free or low-cost programs in their community.
Those in the Middle Class
Those in the middle class often have insurance through their employer. They have a more comprehensive range of places they can choose from as long as rehab is in-network and can afford any deductibles or copayments they may be required to pay. Often, they will attend group therapy sessions that may be paired with individual sessions. They will form connections within the group therapy sessions as they learn and grow the skills necessary to leave substances behind. Often, the rehabs these people attend are near their homes and less luxurious.
Those in High-Earning Careers
At this class level, people can choose any rehab facility they would like. They may have insurance but can afford to pay for high-end and luxury places. These higher-end rehabs are out of network for insurance companies and require individuals to pay out of pocket. Because people with higher-paying jobs tend to have a smaller likelihood of developing a substance use disorder, these facilities may be smaller, with fewer clients, which ensures that each person receives attentive care designed with their needs in mind.
Addiction Treatment Options for Working Professionals in California
If you are in a high-earning occupation and having a challenging time balancing your career with a substance use disorder, it might be time to start addiction treatment. At Pacific Sands, we will help you with getting started on rehab. Our facility has a 6-client maximum with private rooms, ensuring your comfort and priority while you stay with us. Taking that step today provides you with the resources that guarantee your freedom from substance use disorders.
Find the solution to your successful recovery journey at Pacific Sands. Our clinical director and primary therapist are on-site 50 hours a week, ensuring that your treatment continues to be solution-focused on your unique needs. To learn more, contact us today at 949-426-7962.
Pacific Sands – The first step towards a new life.
FAQs About Addiction and Socioeconomic Status
Is lower socioeconomic status associated with a higher likelihood of addiction?
A lower socioeconomic status is typically associated with a higher chance someone will develop a substance use disorder. While people with a higher status can develop this disorder, it is less likely.
Can addiction severely impact your socioeconomic status?
A substance use disorder can impact your socioeconomic status as it can lead to job loss or poor work performance. Maintaining your socioeconomic status without a stable income might be challenging.
