Substance Abuse and Marriage Trouble

Unfortunately, substance abuse and marriage trouble are often found together. After all, substance abuse doesn’t just impact a single person: It also impacts the people they are closest to. Understanding the scope of substance abuse and its influence on others may help some couples find help and treatment before they feel the need for divorce. Families can work through their shared issues in a family therapy program.

Often, Marriage Decreases the Rate of Substance Abuse

Starting with the good news, it is important to note that couples who marry may see substance abuse and addiction chances decrease. This may be due to a number of factors, but the reality is that married couples are less likely to abuse drugs, alcohol, or prescription drugs. However, the inverse is also true: After divorce, substance abuse rates increase.

Substance Abuse May Eat Up Half of a Person’s Income

According to Forbes, those at the poverty level who struggle with substance abuse may spend 50 percent or more of their income on their substance of choice. When you consider that many marriages dissolve because of financial reasons, it becomes clear why substance abuse can contribute to divorce.

Drug Costs Can be Astronomical

The financial cost of drug addiction can be tremendously high. By some statistics, those addicted to cocaine can spend between $450 and $1,200 per day. In a marriage, however, the costs are even higher, particularly when you factor in missed work, potential legal fees, and medical care costs.

This financial burden takes a toll on the family, even more so when jobs are lost because of substance abuse.

Couples Who Abuse Substances More Likely to Get Divorced

In marriages where there is no substance abuse, divorce rates hover around 30 percent. In marriages where there is substance abuse or addiction, divorce rates skyrocket to 48.3 percent. Clearly, there is a clear correlation between substance abuse and marriage trouble, and it often ends in divorce.

Don’t let your relationships fall apart because of substance use disorders. Involve your family in your treatment program to create a solid foundation of trust and understanding. Take part in the following addiction therapy programs:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• Behavioral family therapy program
• Individual and group counseling
• Recreation therapy program with activities like a ropes course
• Holistic therapy programs, such as yoga, music, and art therapy

Increased Alcohol Consumption Increases Divorce Rates

There seems to be, by some accounts, a direct link between the amount of alcohol consumed and the chance of divorce. In fact, every liter of alcohol consumed annually can increase the likelihood of divorce by a staggering 20 percent. This highlights the difference between casual, occasional drinking and addiction.

Whether you’re ready to battle your own addiction or help your spouse, Beaches Recovery can help. Call 866.605.0532 to learn more about the Jacksonville, Florida, location and how the right treatment can save your life as well as your marriage.

Find Help at Beaches Recovery

Join many others in the path of healing for substance abuse and marriage trouble. Beaches Recovery in Jacksonville, FL has sunny beaches as accredited treatment programs for your family. When substance abuse threatens to tear you away from your loved ones, contact us today. The following programs can be combined with addiction therapies to heal the whole family unit:

• Inpatient rehab center program
• Drug or alcohol detox at Tides Edge
• Partial hospitalization program (PHP)
• Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
• Sober living programs

Call Beaches Recovery at 866.605.0532 for more information about programs that bring your family back together. Substance abuse and marriage trouble are big hurdles, but you don’t have to face them alone. Start rebuilding your life today.