7 Crazy Ways Addicts Fund Their Drug Habits

It’s no secret that drug addiction can drive people to do things that are completely out of character. When addiction takes hold, scoring drugs to avoid withdrawals is a 24/7 job. And there’s no glamour in that kind of career path. Little girls certainly don’t dream of becoming prostitutes who trade sex for crack rocks. And you’ll never find a little boy who’s eager to pursue a life of crime as a way to fund his heroin habit.

While it’s common to hear of addicts turning to prostitution, burglary, and car theft as a way to earn drug money, thousands find alternate funding routes. Some of these “jobs” are legal; some aren’t. Legalities aside, there’s no denying that addiction can make people do crazy things.

Here’s a look at seven of the most outrageous methods ever used to fund a drug addiction:

Law Breakers

Addicts in Baltimore took recycling to a whole new level by cutting down city light posts, then selling them for scrap metal in neighboring towns. In just a few weeks, 130 poles vanished, each one weighing about 250 pounds. Police and local residents are left wondering how someone manages to snatch these huge fixtures, many from affluent neighborhoods.
At college campus parties, addicts patiently wait for female partygoers to leave designer handbags unattended. When the coast is clear, they make off with the bags and their contents. Later, they sell the expensive bags (and anything else of value) for drug money.
Some addicts find out what their drug dealer’s kids want for Christmas, steal those specific items, then bring them back and trade the “gifts” for drugs. Talk about Bad Santa!

Low-Down, Dirty Moves

Dog lovers prepare to cringe. Some addicts have gone so far as to dog-nap a family’s pooch, wait for a reward to be offered, then bring the dog back and nab the cash.
In a real pinch, addicts have been known to take money out of the offering plates traditionally passed around at narcotics anonymous meetings and church services.

Kind of Legal, Totally Questionable

Many addicts spend hours collecting recyclable items along the highways of America, cashing in multiple bags of glass, plastic, and aluminum recyclables for drug money.
Working as black market chauffeurs, car-owning addicts sometimes land “jobs” driving drug dealers around the city. After a day of deliveries, addicts are generally compensated not with money but with drugs.

How to Find Help for Drug or Alcohol Misuse

If you or someone you love is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, call our toll-free helpline at and talk to a recovery professional today. You can also check your insurance coverage online now to determine whether your insurance provider will cover rehabilitation.