Living with drug or alcohol addiction can be very challenging. Substance abuse and addiction can harm your health, impact daily functioning, and strain your relationships. Millions of people in the United States struggle with addiction, and many require professional treatment to overcome it.
When your spouse struggles with substance use disorder (SUD), you also share their struggles. It can be emotionally and physically tiring to care for an addicted spouse. You may experience feelings of shame, anger, anxiety, or other complex emotions.
Watching someone struggle with substance abuse can be very hard. What can you do to help an addicted spouse get the treatment they need?
This article will explore different ways to help a spouse start alcohol or drug addiction treatment. You will learn:
- Signs your spouse requires addiction treatment
- How to help your spouse seek treatment
- How to stage an intervention
- Where to find comprehensive substance abuse and mental health treatment
If you or a loved one requires substance abuse treatment, find the help you need at Archstone Behavioral Health. Contact our intake team to explore your treatment options or to schedule an initial assessment.
Signs Your Spouse Needs to Go to Rehab
Recognizing addiction is the first step in helping a spouse or family member start a rehab program. Sometimes, it can be challenging to know when someone needs the support of a treatment program.
Substance abuse and addiction can impact a person’s appearance, mood, behaviors, and more. Knowing the signs of substance abuse and addiction can help you recognize these signs of SUD.
Common signs of drug or alcohol addiction include:
- Dishonest or sneaky behaviors
- Falling behind at work, school, or other responsibilities
- Increased isolation
- Using drugs or drinking more often, or needing to use more of a substance to get the desired effects
- Having social, financial, or legal problems related to substance use
- Doing risky things while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, like driving, getting into fights, or having unsafe sex
- Changes in appearance, such as quick weight changes, skin problems, or neglected hygiene
- Exhibiting withdrawal symptoms (nausea, tremors, insomnia, body aches) if they stop using drugs or alcohol
People who become addicted to drugs or alcohol may not be able to stop on their own. Prolonged substance use changes how the body and brain work. These changes can make it nearly impossible to stop using addictive substances without help.
Addiction can cause a loss of control over substance use. Most people require professional treatment to stop. Contact the Archstone Behavioral Health specialists to learn about our programs or to schedule an intake appointment.
How Can I Help a Spouse Start Addiction Treatment?
Addiction treatment programs provide structure, supervision, treatment, and support to help people overcome substance use disorder (SUD). There are many kinds of treatment and levels of care, including:
- Medical detox programs
- Inpatient and residential programs
- Partial hospitalization programs (PHP)
- Intensive outpatient programs (IOP)
- Outpatient rehab programs
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) recommends that loved ones stage an intervention to convince an addicted loved one to seek treatment. An intervention is a planned conversation between an addicted person and their loved ones with the goal of starting rehab immediately.
Carefully planned interventions have a high rate of success. Consider hiring a professional interventionist to help you prepare for and hold an effective intervention.
In addition to planning an intervention, there are several things you can do to help your spouse seek treatment. You can:
- Learn about addiction and recovery by reading books, finding information on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website, attending Al-Anon or Nar-Anon meetings, or participating in counseling
- Researching local treatment options with available openings
You may also research state and local involuntary commitment laws if your spouse refuses to go to rehab.
It can be challenging to navigate a loved one’s addiction and recovery. Find support, treatment programs, and recovery resources at Archstone Behavioral Health.
Can You Force a Loved One to Go to Rehab?
In 1993, the State of Florida passed a law called The Other Drug Services Act (the Marchman Act). This law lets people file for court-ordered substance abuse treatment for someone struggling with addiction.
You may only use the Marchman Act in very specific situations. Those allowed to file for involuntary SUD treatment include:
- Parents
- Siblings
- Spouses
- Legal guardians
- Law enforcement officers
The law requires petitioners to prove that the addicted person cannot care for themselves or make sound decisions about their health. Petitioners must prove that the addicted person is likely to harm themself or others without immediate SUD treatment.
Filing for the Marchman Act requires several steps. You must:
- Contact local addiction treatment centers to find an opening
- File a petition for involuntary commitment through your local county clerk’s office
- Attend a hearing (typically occurs within 10 days of filing the petition)
If a judge approves the petition, law enforcement will find and transport your spouse to a treatment facility for assessment and treatment.
Contact the Archstone Behavioral Health specialists to learn more about filing for involuntary treatment or to explore our treatment programs.
Find Help to Get a Spouse Into Rehab
If you or your spouse requires addiction treatment, you are not alone. Find the treatment, support, and recovery resources you need at Archstone Behavioral Health. Contact our team now to learn about your treatment options or to schedule an intake appointment.
