Is Money the New Drug Addiction?
- theymatter4
- Jul 23, 2025
- 3 min read
We used to associate addiction with substances — drugs, alcohol, nicotine. Today, a new kind of addiction is emerging. It's not inhaled, injected, or ingested — it’s deposited, withdrawn, spent, and chased: Money.
And like any addiction, its symptoms are becoming disturbingly clear:
People are fighting over it.
Killing for it.
Dying without it.
Families are being torn apart by it.
People are waking up every day, wondering what kind of content they can create to get more likes, more engagement — all to feed the algorithm, and ultimately, the bank account.
Welcome to the age of monetized morality, where values are auctioned off to the highest bidder and authenticity is often sacrificed for a few extra dollars.
When Did Money Become Our Master?
Money itself isn't evil. It's a tool — neutral by nature. But like any tool, it becomes dangerous in the wrong hands or when it becomes the goal instead of the means. Today, it seems the pursuit of money has crossed a threshold. It's no longer just about survival or security. Now it's about status, identity, and validation.
Social media has turned this obsession into a sport.
People fake deaths for GoFundMe dollars. AI-generated fake photos are used to scam sympathy. Viral stunts border on illegal, immoral, or downright dangerous — all to “go viral,” to monetize views, and to earn a slice of the influencer economy.
Why the Addiction?
Like a drug, money offers:
A dopamine rush — every sale, every like, every cashapp notification is a hit.
A false sense of power — money talks, and people listen.
An illusion of control — more money = less problems... or so we think.
But just like a drug, the high fades. And the chase resumes — more content, more followers, more hustle. And with it, more anxiety, more disconnection, more loneliness.
The Dark Side: Mental Health & Suicide Prevention
The pressure to “make it” financially is crushing — and tragically, some people don’t survive it.
Behind the filters, the flash, and the flexing, there’s a silent epidemic of burnout, depression, and financial hopelessness.
Many have taken their own lives under the weight of debt, public failure, or the feeling that they’ll never be “enough” without money.
But here’s the truth: your value is not determined by your bank account. You are worth more than your net worth.
So... Is Money the New Drug?
Yes — when it becomes your master instead of your servant.
Yes — when your identity is tied to your income.
Yes — when you’re willing to lie, cheat, and manipulate just to make a dollar.
But there’s a way out.
Like any addiction, it starts with awareness. It takes discipline to stop comparing, to stop chasing, and to define your own version of wealth — one that includes peace, purpose, and integrity.
Final Thoughts
Money isn’t the enemy — but the love of it can be.The question we all need to ask is:
Are we using money, or is money using us?
Let’s not lose our souls trying to gain the world. And let’s never forget: no dollar is worth a life.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts due to financial stress, please reach out. You are not alone. There is help — and there is hope.
Talk to a friend. Call a therapist. Text a crisis line. There is a way through this that doesn’t end in tragedy.
Disclaimer
This blog is for informational and reflective purposes only and is not intended to serve as financial, medical, or psychological advice. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm or suicide, please seek immediate help from a licensed mental health professional or contact a suicide prevention hotline in your area. Financial stress is real, but you are never alone. Support and resources are available.
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