Recovery can be a complex process when a couple is battling addiction or substance use disorder. The couple may not agree to go into rehab at the same time unanimously. And, when one partner continues to use the addictive substance, the other will have a hard time trying to avoid a relapse after undergoing treatment.
However, failure to get drug therapy can worsen some of the issues the couple might be facing. Common among them include financial loss, relationship challenges, as well as declining mental and physical health.
But, if both partners willingly decide to receive drug therapy, they can start a new life together. Several rehab centers offer family-oriented treatment for drug addiction. These provide drug therapy that may include behavioral therapies for cohabitating partners. This therapy can also improve relationships and help in the management of issues like codependence. It can also create new relationship dynamics where partners support each other in the effort to maintain sobriety.
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Drug Addiction among Couples
Relationships where partners abuse drugs are not uncommon. However, substance abuse can damage a relationship even when a couple is determined to make it work. That’s why it may be wise to seek help from some couples rehab centers. Some of the effects of addiction that affects both partners include neglecting responsibilities like childcare and domestic chores, spending less time together, and abandoning the leisure or recreational activities that partners enjoyed together. But, how do you tell that a couple needs help with addiction?
**Here are some of the signs of addiction problem for a couple: **
● When the only thing a couple does together is drinking alcohol or using drugs.
● When a couple experiences domestic violence due to the use of the addictive substance.
● Partners must be high or drunk to discuss relationship issues or show affection.
● Partners neglect important responsibilities like childcare.
If a couple does not seek help with addiction, resolving issues in a relationship becomes harder.
This will widen the emotional gap between partners leading to maladaptive patterns of their substance use. Nevertheless, behavioral couples’ therapy for drug abuse can help.
Couples Therapy
When drug addiction sets in, it affects a relationship in different ways making going back to how things used to be without substance abuse difficult. A partner in a relationship may undergo treatment successfully. However, they will always face a relapse risk.
What’s more, some physical and emotional injuries associated with addiction can’t be taken back or reversed. Additionally, a couple may have new habits like codependency or enabling the use of the addictive substance. These have to be dealt with before partners proceed to recovery.
These are some of the things that partners learn when attending behavioral couples’ therapy sessions. They are taught better ways of communicating and how to boost positivity in their relationships. The goal of couples’ therapy is to enable partners to develop a new standard for their relationship. This standard can be characterized by new ways of spending quality moments together and interacting while supporting abstinence.
A couple takes time to learn new behaviors. However, newly learned behaviors can deepen a relationship while enabling a couple to develop a stronger bond by providing support to each other through the recovery and sobriety journey.
Partners that attend behavioral therapy at couples rehab together enjoy the following benefits:
● They are healthier and happier with fewer separation cases. Divorce risk is lower among these couples when compared to those who receive individual-based treatment.
● Couples that receive behavioral therapy for drug abuse and alcoholism together experience reduced domestic violence.
● In some cases, substance abuse treatment costs are lower when partners attend rehab together.
Rehabs that offer drug therapy for couples take different approaches. It’s, therefore, important to find out more about the rehab you have in mind before deciding to enroll for its programs.
Frequently asked questions
What to Expect
In most cases, drug rehab for married couples is based on behavioral couples therapy. A romantic relationship can help partners get clean and stay sober. Couples can participate in
drug therapy together in different ways depending on their individual needs and the dynamics of their relationship.
Behavioral therapy is particularly important because it strengthens some relationship factors that can promote abstinence. Research has shown that when individuals are in happier, healthier, and more communicative relationships, they experience a lower relapse risk.
Marital problems and drug abuse can lead to a destructive cycle where each can easily induce the other. Behavioral couples therapy, therefore, aims to restructure interactions of a
dysfunctional couple and promote sobriety.
Drug therapy for couples can take approaches like enhancing a better understanding of the triggers for each partner and putting efforts towards avoiding them. Most therapy programs start with detox where individuals undergo separate treatment. This is followed by a couple’s counseling session.
In an inpatient drug rehab for families, partners can be allowed to sleep in one room. Others may have separate rooms. Couples can also receive this therapy in an outpatient facility. One partner can also be a resident and the other an outpatient.
The duration taken to complete drug therapy for couples varies from one rehab program to another. It also depends on the treatment or recovery needs of the couple. Nevertheless, most programs last between one and nine months. However, partners attend about 15 outpatient sessions for around six months.
A recovery contract is also involved in the programs for couples. This entails making a promise that a partner won’t drink or use the drug and they will support their better half in sobriety.
The Bottom Line
Receiving drug therapy together in rehab for couples on drugs is a sure way to start a new life together. However, the journey to recovery is not easy because most couples have relationship issues to deal with after detoxification. But with commitment, partners in a relationship can support each other, as well as, avoid cravings and triggers. They can also remind each other
about the skills they learned in the rehab facility. This combined with peer support and aftercare programs can help partners avoid relapse and overcome addiction together.
