Elite Recovery: How Social Status Affects Substance Use Disorders

Substance use disorders can affect people from all walks of life. And despite certain cultural stereotypes, elite clients may be especially vulnerable. Because people with high status face a specific set of stressors, they also have unique needs during recovery. If you’re a person who faces these unique challenges, it may be helpful to seek out a rehab that caters to luxury clientele.

These programs are specifically designed to provide support for people who are accustomed to a certain standard of living. What’s more, the staff at these facilities are highly qualified to help people of your demographic. By working with people who can intuitively understand your personal history, your current experience, and your goals for the future, you may have a much easier time approaching recovery.

Luxury rehabs are there to help you live your best life. In this type of treatment, you won’t be asked to give up the amenities you rely on, and you won’t be pressured to make changes that might jeopardize your future. Instead, your team will help you learn to navigate ongoing stress and triggers, without giving up the most meaningful parts of your life.

Stress and Socioeconomic Status

Every person has their own experience of stress. Elite social status doesn’t protect you from this. It may actually increase your stress levels, and as a result, make you more vulnerable to certain mental health conditions.

One expert writes, “Stress is a well-known risk factor in the development of addiction¹ and in addiction relapse vulnerability.” Even the most affluent lifestyles may come with unique difficulties. As you consider attending rehab, you might benefit from reflecting on which areas of your life are the most challenging, in spite of their potential rewards.

The Weight of Reputation

People with high social status also tend to have high visibility. Whether your position comes from your family, your career, or any other source, it can feel as though you’re being scrutinized by the public. Your actions may reflect on the people around you, including your loved ones, colleagues, and employees. If you have celebrity status, your behavior may even have a direct impact on the lives of your fanbase.

When your behavior has such far-reaching consequences, it’s natural to feel pressure to perform. And because of the stigma surrounding substance use disorders,² well-known figures may delay admitting that they need help. However, new research suggests that the public acknowledgment of mental health conditions can “serve as a powerful method of communication to increase awareness of mental health³ and normalize psychiatric illnesses.

Great Responsibility

Some elite clients have a great deal of responsibility. This is often true of high-level executives, who may be responsible for the success of their colleagues, shareholders, and employees. Others may have responsibilities to their family, or even to the public.

When people are depending on you, you may be concerned about letting them down. And if you have a substance use disorder, you may struggle with associated guilt and shame about your condition. But you’re only human. If you had a physical illness, seeking treatment would be seen as reasonable and responsible. Although it may not feel this way, the same is true of mental health diagnoses. Asking for help is not a failure.

Affluence and Mental Health

Although it can bring people great security and pleasure, material success does not protect your mental health.⁴ In fact, your annual income may be directly related to your experience of stress. In a 2018 study, “researchers found that people who earn between $51,000 and $75,000 generally feel the least stressed. By contrast, of those who make an income of $200,000 or more, nearly 70 percent said they feel stressed.”

And stress is just one component of mental health. Additionally, affluent people “are at a higher risk for depression.”⁵ For some clients—but certainly not all—this can be related to your attitude about your finances.

Managing wealth requires a great deal of emotional energy. And when you’re responsible for protecting yourself, your family, or your legacy, that may be unavoidable. However, it’s important to remember that your finances are just one aspect of your life. You are more than your external circumstances. It’s easy for elite clients to lose track of this, and as a result, become disconnected from the activities that make them feel most fulfilled.

Substance Misuse Among Luxury Clients

Perhaps due to these unique and isolating stressors, substance use disorders are common among high-powered clients. As one expert writes, “While money itself doesn’t cause addiction or substance abuse, wealth has been linked with a higher susceptibility to addiction problems.”⁶

In addition, numerous studies have found that in particular, the children of wealthy parents are extremely vulnerable to substance use disorders.⁷ In fact, teens of high socioeconomic status are significantly more likely to use alcohol and drugs than those with less privilege.

The stereotypical image of a substance user as destitute couldn’t be further from the truth. While it’s true that people with this diagnosis may come from any social class, substance misuse is likely on the rise among the elite. Reporting for Forbes, Alice Walton writes, “The prevalence of substance abuse in the CEO circle⁸ is hard to gauge because it is so clandestine—these are not the people who are checking themselves into rehab, they’re the people who [are] staying out of it and continuing to function. A recent study from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism found that about 20% of alcoholics are high functioning and well-educated. Prescription medication addiction is rising in many circles, the C-suite among them.”

However, this demographic also experiences unique barriers to treatment. Walton goes on to explain that some elite clients may be less trusting, and therefore resistant to receiving care. What’s more, many high-powered clients are high-functioning substance users. If you’re used to performing under pressure, you may be able to keep up appearances for a long time, despite overwhelming emotional turmoil. “There’s often the if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it mentality.”

It can be difficult to internalize the idea that you don’t need to lose everything before you admit you need treatment. This can be especially hard for clients who enjoy an especially high standard of living. If you’re accustomed to a certain lifestyle, it can be difficult to imagine giving it up, even temporarily.

Many elite clients may delay seeking help because they’re unable to step away from pressing responsibilities. And others have trouble considering inpatient treatment because they’re concerned about leaving certain amenities behind. Fortunately, some rehab programs are designed specifically for these clients. You may be able to benefit from inpatient treatment without losing access to the healthy parts of a lifestyle you love.