Substance abuse creates a ripple effect of problems that can affect people in many areas of their lives. Someone who drinks and drives May receive a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) conviction, which can lead to many additional consequences in their personal and professional lives. There are various legal troubles and career challenges someone may face when convicted of a DUI. Here is a look at some of the hidden price tags associated with substance abuse problems.
Driving Under the Influence: Legal Woes and Lifelong Repercussions
When arrested for a DUI, they will immediately face legal troubles, including the time commitment and financial costs associated with their defense. In many instances, the outcome will not be favorable for anyone convicted of such a DUI. A person may face heavy fines, mandatory community service, license suspensions, and jail time. A criminal conviction on a permanent record can impact someone for the rest of their life, as the adjudication will appear in a background check.
Paying higher insurance premiums becomes almost unavoidable. Being unable to find an insurance company willing to cover a convicted drunk driver might be another disaster. Ultimately, drinking and driving can lead to many severe problems that affect someone professionally, financially, socially, and legally.
Damage to the Family Bond
The horrific impact that a DUI or substance abuse problem can have on a family deserves a closer look. A family bond could break apart when someone’s behavior and mental state suffer from the ravages of alcoholism or drug addiction. Substance abusers may lose their family’s trust and see personal bonds break apart and relationships become irreparably damaged. Taking steps to address the substance abuse problem and taking responsibility for one’s actions could move the proverbial needle in the direction of healing family problems.
The Impact on a Career
Substance abuse and drunk driving issues could have a far-reaching effect on someone’s career. Anyone whose job requires them to have a driver’s license or a clean driving record might find themselves looking for a new career upon a DUI arrest. Even signing up for a gig economy job could become impossible.
Again, background checks may show convictions related to substance abuse. A person may be passed over for a job because of their past. Whether this is fair is debatable, but it does happen to people. They may discover their earning potential and career prospects suffer dramatically.
There could be several ways to deal with career troubles. One approach is seeking a new path and using past problems as motivation to overcome hurdles in life. Others may find that they do not have to seek a new career but can rehabilitate their reputation in several ways. Some may even go through the legal expense of expunging their record.
Overcoming Substance Abuse
Becoming free of the shackles of substance abuse could give someone a new sense of purpose in life. While the problems associated with their past behavior may linger, at least if they enter a rehab program, they can take proactive steps toward making their addiction a thing of the past.
