Marriage Resources for Spouses of Addicts

Substance abuse and how it affects divorce hits close to home for Ben and Dr. Cohen. When Ben and Nikki filed for divorce, Ben was 13 years sober. Dr. Cohen was formerly married to an alcoholic whose addiction heavily affected their marriage and divorce. There is no doubt that there is a psychological element to addiction, but there are a lot of hurdles and misconceptions people wouldn’t expect when dealing with addiction. Likewise, if your ex-spouse continues to struggle with addiction or doesn’t comply with the original divorce decrees—like failing to pay child support—your lawyer becomes crucial in protecting your rights. They can advise on filing contempt motions or requesting the court to order counseling or supervision for the addicted parent.

How to Address Co-Dependency in Relationships Post-Recovery

Ayona has a Ph.D. in statistics from the University of Edinburgh. She has been an educator and researcher in the field of statistics for the last 20 years. Her area of research is studying dietary data and looking at population-level exposure to contaminants using Bayesian models. Over the years she has worked as a statistical consultants for a variety of projects in the public and private sector.

divorce rates after sobriety

During their time at the treatment center, their spouse will participate in support groups, behavioral therapy, and recreational activities with other recovering addicts on the same journey. When people think of rehab, they often imagine inpatient treatment. Inpatient treatment programs involve your partner living at the treatment facility in a controlled, substance-free environment with 24/7 medical supervision. While some couples will work to rebuild that trust, some may discover they cannot reconcile the damage caused.

Codependent people often have low self-esteem, can be quick to anger, and may struggle with adjusting to change. The financial burden of addiction, however, is not the only way it can affect a marriage. These issues caused by addiction only widen the cracks in a relationship’s foundation and are often the final consideration leading to divorce. When someone you love is facing addiction, it’s hard to know where to turn. Many different support groups exist for families who’ve dealt with addiction, found through online forums or in your community. For example, Al-Anon Family Groups provides a 12-step program for families and friends of addicts.

Rebuilding a Life Post-Divorce

divorce rates after sobriety

In cases where the addict rejects treatment or treatment is ineffective, many couples may feel their only recourse is divorce. SAMHSA also found that substance abuse by one parent increases the likelihood that the substance-abusing parent will be unable to protect children if the other parent is violent. Once violence is introduced into a situation where the addict may be in an altered state, the situation can quickly become dangerous.

Divorce Can Be A Risk Factor For Substance Use

Hope and vulnerability are not options for the spouse of an active alcoholic. There are so many things wrong with that declaration and question I shouted at my wife on several sober occasions before I relapsed and returned to active alcoholism. “In an ideal situation, you’re proud of your partner for getting sober.

Embracing the Future: Dating and New Relationships

  • Medical detoxification services are usually available through a PHP but not an IOP.
  • In December 2000, the Netherlands became the first country to establish same-sex marriage by law.
  • In comparison to couples where both individuals were light drinkers, relationships where both partners were heavy drinkers had a notably higher rate of divorce.
  • As you develop this new relationship, take time to date one another.
  • Your marriage ended but that doesn’t mean there weren’t incredible moments and memories.

What treatment fits your partner best will depend on their unique situation, so meeting with a physician or specialist is essential to assess and develop a game plan. This section will discuss the most common treatment options available to addicts and their families. As your partner receives the treatment they need, you can also be part of the process to support them and have access to support for yourself. If the partner living with SUD hasn’t found healthy ways to cope with the trauma or PTSD, then it could begin to affect them in negative ways. But originally, it was created to describe the romantic partners (usually women, although we now know that men can become codependent as well) of people with SUD. By setting the right expectations and considering treatment for yourself, you can overcome addiction together with your partner.

divorce rates after sobriety

However, after time, that number increases dramatically to 50%. Divorces, including those involving alcoholism, typically take less than a year to complete. Furthermore, we delved into the importance of support systems in maintaining lasting marriages after rehab. Whether it be family, friends, or support groups, having a strong network during recovery can provide much-needed encouragement and accountability for both partners. For couples who have gone through the challenges of addiction together, it’s important to continue seeking professional guidance even after recovery is complete.

  • You can also help your spouse by committing to sober living with them.
  • This may involve setting boundaries and learning how to express needs and expectations in a healthy way.
  • However, evidence from other studies supported the hypothesis that AUDs are linked to marital interactions and marital quality (Marshal, 2003).
  • This is the part with the somber yet attainable happy ending.
  • Divorces are more complicated when high-net-worth individuals dissolve their marriages, as there is much more property to be distributed.

divorce rates after sobriety

The supportive partner may want to be needed, and feel unhappy, lost, or confused with the new relationship dynamic. Even if your partner stops using drugs and alcohol, if the codependency itself isn’t addressed, this dynamic will continue to affect the relationship. The caretaking partner in codependent relationships may also assume this unhealthy role in other relationships as well.

Can Relationships Survive in Recovery?

At W1, participants who reported multiple marriages were asked only about how their first marriage ended. Similarly, participants may have experienced multiple marital changes between W1 and W2, but at W2 they were only asked about the first marital change. The NESARC was not a study of couples, and therefore only one partner was assessed. Highlighting the importance of assessing both spouses, previous studies found that discrepant drinking is related to subsequent divorce (see Ostermann et al., 2005).

The divorce rate is slightly higher when the heavy drinker is the wife, indicating Sober living house how alcoholism can significantly impact marital stability. In the U.S., more than 7% of divorces are due to substance abuse issues. This is a significant percentage, considering the overall divorce rate is about 45%.