Dr Prem Global Healthcare Logo

What to do when Your Spouse Has a Drug Problem?

Your-Spouse-Has-a-Drug-Problem-

When you love someone, you love all of them, and that includes their likes and dislikes. But if you love someone who is struggling from drug addiction, you can find that it takes a toll on your own life as well. Instead of turning their drug addiction into an argument every day of your life, it’s important you know the right way to handle it. If you’re wondering what to do when your spouse has a drug problem, these tips can help you better handle the situation.

1. Know the signs

Your-Spouse-Has-a-Drug-Problem-

If your spouse doesn’t openly admit to having a drug problem, but you think they have one, it’s important for you to know the signs. There are different drugs out there for many reasons, and it’s possible to abuse a variety of drugs, from depression drugs to opioids to harder drugs. Find out the signs of drug abuse, such as a change in behavior, a constant need to be in the bathroom alone, radically spending money, etc. If you can familiarize yourself with the signs, then you can know what to look for.

2. Learn everything you can

If you have never struggled with addiction yourself, then you don’t understand how hard it is to deal with. You don’t know what it’s like to have something compel you and take over your life, and that can make it harder for you to understand what your spouse is going through. Instead of just getting angry, it’s important for you to learn everything you can. Talk to counselors, people in drug programs, and even reputable online websites. The more you can learn about addiction and how it is affecting your spouse, the better support you can give. According to the law office of Matthew Hand, “Drug abuse can put a big damper on relationships, but the more spouses understand, the better it can all be.”

3. Talk to your spouse

Talk to your spouse

Whether you know your spouse has a drug problem or you’re still suspecting it, it’s important to talk with your spouse. Understand that if they have not admitted it to you, this conversation can be difficult. However, talking about it can make everything come out in the open and bring you both aware of the situation you’re in. Don’t do it angrily – just have a conversation about how they want to handle it. If your spouse wants help, find out what they’d like you to do to help them (if anything). If they just want to talk about it, be the shoulder they need to lean on. If you can openly communicate about the issue, you’ll find that you are both on the same page when it comes to everyone getting the help and support needed.

4. Find a support group for yourself

When it comes to drug addiction, most people assume it’s only the drug addict who needs help, but that’s not true. As the spouse, you also need a support group to help you talk, vent, and understand. There are plenty of different support groups around different areas so you can get the assistance you need to deal with your spouse’s abuse. During these sessions, you’ll also find out how you can help your spouse and what you can do for yourself to make the situation easier on everyone.

5. Know your breaking point

Your-Spouse-Has-a-Drug-Problem-

Being the spouse to a drug addict can be tough. You don’t want to give up on them and you don’t want to see anything bad happen to them. However, you do need to know your breaking point. If you are with someone who talks about getting help but then does nothing to get help, then that’s not a healthy relationship for you to be in. You can also set rules that your spouse understands so they know what your breaking point may be. While you don’t want to enable anything about their behavior or discourage them in any way, it’s still important for you to know when walking away is the better option.

Dealing with a spouse who has a drug addiction can be challenging, and it will certainly take a lot of energy for you to get through. However, if you remain strong and have open conversations with your spouse—and you do what you can to get them help—you may find yourself on the upswing. Just remember to continue caring about yourself and understand that your spouse’s addiction is not your fault.

Article Submitted By Community Writer

Recent Articles:

Scroll to Top