As you journey through the recovery process, you’ll come to understand addiction as the all-consuming disease that it is. You’ll also learn that there is an array of environmental and genetic reasons why substance use disorders take hold of some people while passing others by. One of the key genetic factors that contribute to someone developing the condition is an impulsive personality.
This means that you have to go to greater lengths to learn self-control and develop the skills needed to self-regulate. For those with impulsive tendencies, money can be a big problem. Abusing alcohol or abusing drugs exacerbates this issue because you lose your inhibitions when inebriated. Managing money is something you can learn, and the True Link card affords you independence while restricting you from doing anything that could harm you or your chances of healing.
When it comes to addiction, cash can be a major trigger. Credit cards aren’t much better; you can use most of them to take out money at an ATM anyway. Substance abuse disorders hijack specific pathways in the brain and make it extraordinarily difficult for you to resist cravings and urges. This is especially true during the acute stages of withdrawal. While you’re in rehab, having a prepaid card that won’t allow you to give in to temptation can be life-changing.
You or a loved one loads the card with cash and sets limits. The card doesn’t work in ATMs, and the store will decline it if you try to use it to buy alcohol. Before these types of cards were around, you would have to rely on the rehab center to make purchases for you. Alternatively, you’d have to keep every receipt and have the staff go through them daily. Autonomy and independence are key components to recovery, and a True link card helps to promote both.