How Can I Help My Cocaine-addicted Spouse?
It can be very difficult on a marriage when one individual is struggling with drug addiction. Cocaine is an extremely dangerous drug that not only can cause deadly overdose but can also create problematic psychological and behavioral effects.
Get help today at 800-934-3781(Who Answers?) to learn more about ways you can help your cocaine-addicted spouse and the available treatment options.
Seek Out Professional Treatment
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Trying to locate appropriate treatment for a loved one, especially finding a program tailored to an individual’s particular needs, can be a difficult process.” However, having a loved one––especially a significant other––involved in one’s treatment process can increase an individual’s motivation to begin and stay involved in treatment.
- We can help you find rehab centers that will cater to your loved one’s needs. If they are severely addicted to cocaine, they may require residential treatment in order to get some time away from the triggers and stresses in their life and to focus on their recovery.
- You can also ask your personal physician about options for treatment, as they will know your spouse’s medical history and what will likely benefit them the most.
- Once you find a rehab center you believe will help your spouse recover, call the facility and ask: What is your program’s success rate for cocaine users, how long does treatment last, what is the cost of treatment, and will you take my spouse’s/my insurance?
Stage an Intervention
Being actively involved in your spouse’s recovery will encourage them to stay in treatment.
After finding the right rehab center, you can get ready to talk to your spouse and even stage an intervention with their closest friends, family members, and those who are concerned for them.
It can also help to hire a professional interventionist. Individuals in this position can lead the discussion and add weight to it so your spouse realizes it is serious. Make sure you know what you are going to say beforehand and that you are prepared to back up any statements you make to ensure your spouse will seek the help they need.
Support Your Spouse Through Recovery
Once your spouse does decide to attend rehab, you can support them through their treatment as well as their aftercare. According to the NIDA, “Involvement of a family member or significant other in an individual’s treatment program can strengthen and extend treatment benefits,” and this is largely because the individual will feel supported and want to continue with their treatment program. You can
- Visit your loved one in residential rehab
- Help them transition out of inpatient care and into an aftercare program when they are ready
- Get rid of everything in your home that may trigger their cravings for cocaine
- Ask to be a part of any of their treatment methods or find abstinence-promoting activities that the two of you can do together (yoga, meditation, painting, etc.)
- Help them make and consume more nutritious meals so they can gain weight and become healthier
There are a number of ways in which you can help your cocaine-addicted spouse make a change in their life that will also affect yours. You both deserve to live free of drug abuse and addiction. Get help today at 800-934-3781(Who Answers?) to discuss your treatment options.