Substance Abuse Problems in Relationships Essay - 561 Words

When someone realizes that they have a substance abuse problem, they know that their personal relationships have to change. If this relationship is with a life partner or spouse, however, the issue can become complicated. But you should know that this is not an uncommon situation. While there are no formal statistics for co-occurring substance abuse in a family, most substance abuse counselors will tell you it is actually very typical. Why is this true? Sometimes the couple came together because of their addiction: people seek out partners who have similar issues to their own. Other times, substance abuse was introduced by one member of the couple and, over time, the two cycled into addiction. If you are in a relationship where†¦show more content†¦Too often, someone returns home from treatment with the idea that they can change their partner. Usually, the opposite happens and the two spiral back into substance abuse together. h3 If You Find That the Relationship is Not Worth Saving/h3 Sometimes too much has happened in a relationship and it has become toxic. Some couples realize that they never really had a partnership: their relationship was really about drugs or alcohol. If this is the case, it is probably time to seek a separation. One of the benefits of being in treatment is that you will be working with a counselor who is available to help you sort out your feelings and priorities. If you need to separate, they will help you figure out how to do that in the most supportive and respectful way possible. h3 What If You and Your Partner Are Committed to Change/h3 If you and your partner are committed to change, it is possible for you both to enter treatment. Most rehab facilities will want you and your partner to begin treatment in separate facilities. This will give you both time and space to begin to make positive changes in your life. Some placements as well as outpatient treatment facilities will do couples work. Often this involves a recovery contract between you and your partner. Other services have a team provider approach wherein both partners meet with individual therapists as well as a couples counselor. They will work on issues relatedShow MoreRelatedSubstance Abuse And Its Effects On The United States1050 Words   |  5 Pagescentury is when the active substances in drugs were found. Many of these substances were given over the counter and weren t regulated, which meant that people could easily obtain substances such as morphine, cocaine, landuam, and many others. During the early 1900s, an estimate of about 250,000 people were abusing a substance within the United States. 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