Abstract
Household economic conditions may influence treatment access and recovery, especially where rehabilitation financing and employment support are uneven. This study examined respondent- and household-level economic consequences associated with drug use in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. A retrospective cross-sectional survey included 59 respondents in Makassar City and Sidenreng Rappang Regency between 23 October 2025 and 8 February 2026. Descriptive statistics summarized income, household expenditure, rehabilitation expenditure and financing, unemployment, and asset liquidation. A paired-sample t-test compared reported monthly income before drug-related involvement with current income. Mean monthly income declined from IDR 2,660,169 to IDR 1,552,542 (mean difference IDR 1,107,627; 95% CI 581,891-1,633,363; t(58) = 4.22, p < 0.001; Cohen's dz = 0.55). Household expenditure increased for 53 respondents (89.8%); among them, 69.8% reported an increase below IDR 500,000 per month. Reported cumulative rehabilitation expenditure averaged IDR 1,440,677 (range 0-25,000,000). Rehabilitation was financed mainly by families (59.3%) or respondents themselves (27.1%), and 55.9% reported difficulty paying. Unemployment was reported by 66.1%, and 8.5% reported asset sales. Drug-related economic strain was associated with lower reported income, additional household expenditure, and barriers to rehabilitation affordability and reintegration. Recovery-oriented systems should combine affordable treatment with employment support and social protection.