How Do You Know When It Is Time To Leave Your Spouse For Drug Addiction?

Addiction affects more than just the person with the condition and its effects can spread far and wide. When someone has a drug addiction, it can be an incredibly difficult experience for their partner or spouse. In some ways, the addiction can affect a spouse more than it affects the addict and can cause some serious problems within the relationship.

Unfortunately, not all relationships survive addiction and sometimes it might be necessary for you to leave your addicted spouse or partner. Call 800-256-3490 to learn more about drug addiction treatment for your spouse and keep in mind that it might be time for you to leave them for your own sake and theirs.

Your Health Is Compromised

Staying with an addict past your breaking point will just cause more problems.

The National Institute on Drug Addiction states that the support of loved ones is an important part of the recovery process for addiction that can help everyone involved. However, it does not help the addict if their loved ones are putting their own health and safety in danger in order to help them get better.

Addiction can cause added stress for spouses of addicts, which can lead to serious health issues like ulcers or hypertension. Staying can only worsen those issues and may even prevent necessary treatment. Some addictions can cause financial issues, creating problems like a lack of money if they are the primary source of income in the household.

If they lose their job as a result of their addiction, it can cost you your ability to pay for your own healthcare or even your insurance coverage. In cases of prescription drug abuse, some addicts will steal other medications to use or sell in order to get high.

This can be very dangerous for an addict’s spouse who seriously needs that medication for a legitimate reason. If your health and wellbeing is being negatively affected by your spouse’s addiction, it may be a sign that you need to walk away from the relationship.

You Are Enabling Their Addiction

Enabling addiction is a tricky concept, as many enablers are unaware that their actions are causing harm to their loved ones. Likewise, they may know that they are causing their loved one to continue their addiction.

Some enablers will deny that there is anything wrong with their addicted loved one, or see the addiction as a source of happiness for them and forcing them to get help would be cruel. Choosing to walk away from your relationship with your addicted spouse because you are enabling their addiction can help save their life.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration states that 10.2% of the adult population met criteria for illicit drug usage in a 2014 study. However, that number doesn’t take into account those who’s addiction were shielded from the public eye by an enabler or did not seek treatment due to interference from an enabler.

If you are possibly enabling your spouse’s addiction, it may be in their best interests—and yours—to leave them so they can get the necessary treatment.

Types of Family Therapy for Substance Abuse

You’ve Reached Your Breaking Point

It is completely okay to admit that you have reached your breaking point in your marriage when your spouse has an addiction. Addiction wears away at spouses, partners, and other loved ones in a way that is both similar and different from the way it affects the addict.

A spouse who chooses to stay with an addict until they reach their breaking point can cause more problems, none of which will do anyone any good. In many cases, a spouse who has remained in a relationship with an addict past their breaking point may feel resentful towards them and can create a toxic environment during recovery.

Some may even vent their frustrations in unhealthy ways or take it out on others, like children. Continuing to stay after you have reached that point can complicate things further, worsening your spouse’s condition during treatment and recovery, as well as putting your own health and wellbeing in jeopardy with the added stress.

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, please call 800-256-3490 to learn about what options are available. You’ll be able to speak with one of our caring specialists to learn more information about treating addiction.