Possession of illegal drugs is one of the most common crimes in the world. In the US alone, illicit drug use costs $11 billion in healthcare – and that’s not to mention the other costs involved. It is little surprise, given these figures, that drug use is taken so seriously by so many states and other countries. The truth is, anybody can easily find themselves to be the subject of a drug conviction. Statistics show that illicit drug use is incredibly common – and it is only becoming more so. There are many problems associated with the use of illegal drugs, and we all know of their potential for harm. But there is one side to it which is not often discussed, and yet has just as much potential to ruin someone’s life. We are talking, of course, about how the drug conviction itself can affect your life.

Having a criminal record is always likely to affect your life in some way. But a drug conviction, in particular, is liable to make many more aspects of your life much more difficult. Even if you yourself have never taken any drugs, it is worth knowing the possible consequences. The fact is, any of us could find ourselves in such a situation. It pays to know what might happen if that situation occurs. Let’s take a look, then, at the possible consequences of a drug conviction.

Employment

This is probably the first one that most people think of when they think of having a drug conviction. When you have been convicted for drug possession, it is often much more difficult to get hold of a decent job. This is particularly true in certain places, such as the US. In the US, the vast majority of jobs use saliva drug tests as part of the application process. This is a measure which is taken by the employer to try and avoid hiring anyone who might be considered a liability. Of course, a drug test is unlikely to be a problem unless you have recently had drugs in your system. However, that’s not all. All employers ask candidates to state whether they have any criminal record. They then check the responses against the official files. So if you have a drug conviction from many years ago, it will show up.

Whether or not this is found to be relevant is up to the employer to decide. However, it means that there is the potential that you could struggle finding a job if you have any drug-related criminal record. In the eyes of certain employers, it makes little difference whether you were found in possession of a soft drug many years ago. A drug conviction is a drug conviction, and it could make it difficult for you to ever find work again.

If you are someone who enjoys travelling, then it might be worth your while avoiding illicit drugs altogether. Many countries around the world are incredibly strict when it comes to drug convictions. And it’s not difficult to understand why. The problem here is that no two countries are the same. While one nation might accept someone, another might well never allow that individual to enter again. However, it is not even quite that straightforward.

It comes down to this. When you want to enter a country, you often have to apply for a visa. This is not always the case, but often. In such cases, you will almost always be asked whether you have any criminal convictions. Of course, there is little use lying, as they are likely to check anyway. The difficulty here is that there is no sure fire way of knowing whether or not you are likely to get into any particular country. The truth is, it all depends on the opinion of the official representative who is checking your forms. If we are honest, it is unlikely that will often accept in a foreigner with a drug conviction. Often, this might feel unfair for the traveller, particularly if their conviction was minor. But you should bear in mind that the record does not state whether it is minor or not. It usually simply shows up as a drug conviction.

So it is perfectly possible that you would be accepted into certain countries. But there is no denying having a conviction for drug possession makes the process of travelling a lot more complex than it would be otherwise.

Finances

Back at home, even a life without travel is likely to be made considerably more difficult. Your financial life, in particular, may be affected severely by a drug conviction. Let’s take a look at the main ways that this can happen.

The most serious way in which a drug conviction affects your finances is that it is much harder to get a loan. This might seem absurd, but there is some logic to it. Institutions are unlikely to want to lend money to someone whom they feel is ‘high-risk’. Of course, this umbrella term covers all sorts of people. But one type of person it definitely covers is the illicit drug user. Such institutions often see those with criminal records as less likely to pay back a loan. This might not appear to make much sense, but it’s the truth. With a criminal conviction under your belt, you will find it much more difficult to secure just about any type of loan. It makes little difference whether it’s a student loan, or a standard personal loan from a bank. Even your eligibility for payday loans might be affected. This inability to borrow money might mean that you are unable to get to a point of financial security which is necessary for an adult life.

There is also the added disadvantage of not being able to easily rent or buy property. Of course, a mortgage is harder to get approved with a criminal record – but that’s not all. Even renting a property might be made more difficult if you have a drug conviction.