Drug and alcohol addiction can be hard on every part of your life. Your health, opportunities, and emotional well-being can suffer as substance abuse becomes the center of your life.
You do not have to have an addiction to struggle with its effects. Being married to someone with drug or alcohol dependency can be incredibly challenging. When one partner in a marriage has an addiction, both people live with the consequences.
This article will explore how going to rehab can help to save your marriage. You will learn:
- How substance use disorder (SUD) impacts a relationship
- How couples can navigate addiction recovery together
- How attending rehab can help to save a marriage
- Where to find a rehab program for your addicted partner
If you or your spouse live with addiction, you are not alone. Find the effective, holistic treatment options to recover at The Best Treatment. Our tailored treatment programs can help you and your spouse heal from the effects of addiction and work toward a healthier future.
How Does Addiction Affect a Marriage?
Substance abuse and addiction change the way people think and behave. Addiction can transform someone into a new version of himself–and one that may not resemble the old version at all.
When one partner in a marriage lives with addiction, both partners struggle with addiction. Alcohol or drug abuse makes it nearly impossible for two people to have a healthy, functioning marriage.
Some of the potential effects of addiction in a marriage include:
- A loss of connection
- Lack of trust
- An imbalance in daily chores, work, and childcare
- Inability to focus on the future together
People in a marriage impacted by addiction often experience an extreme loss of trust. Instead of feeling loving and compassionate toward the addicted partner, many people feel angry, anxious, or ashamed. Healthy partners may think of their partner’s substance abuse as a kind of betrayal or abandonment.
Codependency can develop in relationships with one addicted partner. The healthy partner may spend all their time, empathy, and energy caring for their addicted spouse. They may sacrifice their health and happiness to keep the household running.
Addiction can also increase the risk of severe problems. Partners of an addicted spouse are:
- More likely to experience emotional, sexual, and physical abuse
- At risk of life-altering legal problems
- More likely to face financial consequences of their partner’s substance use
No one chooses to develop drug and alcohol addiction. Prolonged substance use changes how a person’s brain and body work. These changes can make it nearly impossible for people to quit using addictive substances on their own.
However, healthy partners do not need to simply accept their partner’s substance abuse. Attending addiction treatment can help people with SUD stop using drugs and alcohol. People can learn new, healthy coping mechanisms to manage stress and challenges.
Addiction and Divorce: Exploring the Connection
Substance abuse and addiction can put extreme strain on a marriage. People may lose trust in their partner. Abuse, neglect, and dishonesty can replace feelings of love and safety.
It may not be surprising that there is a strong connection between addiction and divorce. It is almost impossible to have a healthy, loving, fulfilling marriage when one partner struggles with addiction.
In the United States, drug and alcohol addiction is most common among people aged 25-34.[1] The most common age for a divorce is 30.[2] Addiction experts believe higher rates of substance use disorder in this age range are related to the higher occurrence of divorce.[3]
Very few people–only about 1 in 10–get the help they need to overcome an addiction.[4] This does not need to be the case. Comprehensive treatment and support can help people overcome substance use. Then, couples can work together to heal and work toward a future together.
Will Going to Rehab Save Your Marriage?
If your spouse struggles with substance abuse or addiction, comprehensive treatment programs can help you uncover and heal the roots of this condition. Comprehensive substance abuse treatment programs include:
- Assessments and screenings
- Medically-supported detox programs
- Medications
- Medical care
- Mental health treatment
- Behavioral therapies
- Individual, group, and couples therapy
- Relapse prevention education
- Nutrition support, mindfulness, exercise, and other holistic therapies
During rehab, you and your partner will work to heal your marriage. You may attend couple’s counseling sessions in the treatment facility as your partner receives holistic care. Therapy sessions can help you improve communication, express thoughts, and process emotions together.
Healthy partners must seek additional support as their partner gets help. This may include attending Al-Anon meetings or other support groups. People may also participate in individual therapy to help them manage their emotions during this challenging period.
Find Treatment and Support
If you or your partner lives with substance abuse or addiction, you are not alone. Effective, comprehensive treatment programs are available at The Best Treatment. Contact us today to explore our programs or schedule an intake evaluation.
References:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Characteristics of Adults Aged ≥18 Years Evaluated for Substance Use and Treatment Planning — United States, 2019
- Bowling Green State University: Median Age at First Divorce, 2020
- National Institute of Health: Associations Between Divorce and Onset of Drug Abuse in a Swedish National Sample
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): Treatment and Recovery
