Sarah Walcher

Dependence happens when a person’s body becomes used to a substance and adjusts to receiving that substance regularly. Their body has, quite literally, learned to become dependent upon that substance. Alcoholism can also lead to the dissipation of marital assets. One spouse may squander shared resources, thereby impacting the financial stability of the other party. Courts may consider this, potentially altering the division to favor the non-offending spouse.

• The consequences of addiction can be huge, and it makes sense why addiction and divorce statistics are often connected.
• Next, he had to create a treatment plan consisting of therapy, medication, and fellowship to avoid relapse.
• The divorce ratio statistics present a contrasting narrative, with 673,989 divorces recorded in 2022 at a rate of 2.4 per 1,000 population.
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• Couples often wait longer before marriage, which might help drop those numbers.

Alisha Hamel, LSW, LAC —  Licensed Social Worker & Licensed Addiction Counselor

Being married to an addict can result in not only physical abuse but also emotional distress. If you are married alcohol rehab to someone struggling with addiction, you may feel immense pressure to take care of your spouse or “fix” the problem. Typically, between 40% and 50% of first marriages end in divorce.

• Bill would draw me in emotionally and then shut the door tight, with me on the outside.
• Contact us at Resurgence Behavioral Health to learn about all of our addiction treatment programs and how they can work for you.
• The 40-50% divorce rate for first marriages, as reported by the American Psychological Association, has remained relatively stable in recent years.
• About 72% of divorces affect younger children since most splits happen in the first 14 years of marriage.
• State law determines the process and outcome, and each state is different.

Rebuilding After Divorce: Tips for Staying Sober and Starting a New Chapter

The divorce rate of female troops in 2019 was 7%, while the divorce rate of male soldiers in the same year was only 2.5%. Sometimes, an occupation’s atmosphere also impacts a married couple’s relationship, ultimately making some call it quits. Another study by researchers Paul Amato and Danelle Deboer found that if a woman’s parents divorced, her chances of getting divorced increased by 69%. They also suggested that if both of a married couple’s parents divorced, the possibility of their divorce increased to 189%.

Ways Families Can Get Involved in Addiction Recovery

• She created Hello Divorce to make divorce easy, kind, and affordable.
• I knew my fiance’s mother had been twice divorced, but there was no class in college about the impact of our childhoods on our adulthoods.
• Churches and leaders often urged couples to stay together for marital stability or family expectations.
• According to the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), couples in which at least one partner lives with substance use disorder are often more unhappy than other couples.
• An alcoholic spouse may struggle to participate effectively in divorce negotiations, potentially causing delays.

Although everyone should go participate in support groups following initial treatment, not everyone requires a medical detox. Detox and inpatient treatments are often best suited for individuals with severe addictions. These patients may require intensive 24-hour treatment, especially during the detox period. This is when the dissolution of a marriage does not require a showing of wrongdoing by either party. In some states, a person might file for divorce because of the fact that there is a substance abuse present. Despite this, every state is different, and it is important to contact an attorney to understand your rights in the case of divorce in your state.

How Does Race Impact Marriage and Divorce?

• Although fidelity and financial issues are often seen as the most common causes of divorce, addiction also creates a major impact on relationships.
• While sexual satisfaction is not always dependent on performance, these factors can still harm the relationship.
• Regardless, seeking professional treatment is always the best course of action when it comes to addiction.
• If you decide to divorce, addiction can complicate the legal proceedings and impact important parenting decisions including custody.

As a teacher at Central Carolina Community College, she has been nominated twice for Instructor of the Year. She is also a Board member and Committee Chair for the North Carolina State Bar drug addiction treatment Board of Paralegal Certification. Another incredibly important part of pulling yourself out of that divide between loss and anger is to have a strong support system. Nikki and I are both very lucky to have a great support system in place. It was crucial to our healing that both of us had people around us who supported us in what we were trying to accomplish.

Often family therapy can also help couples solve other problems in their marriage, which might make the marriage stronger than before. Sometimes people discover who they really are in recovery and grow apart. Others find the burden is too heavy and decide to end their relationships.

Good legal documents give parents peace of mind and help protect the kids from long court battles. Even strong relationships can benefit from guided talks on stressful topics, setting expectations, or rebuilding trust after mistakes. Addressing these issues before they get bigger makes a real difference. Therapists can help couples learn tools to resolve disagreements and support each other.

Does alcohol impact the outcome of divorce?

Living authentically, staying sober, and caring for yourself and your children (if you have them) reflect resilience and courage—qualities far more significant than any stigma-based label. By devoting time to hobbies, you fill your schedule with fulfilling, growth-oriented activities. This not only keeps you occupied but also reaffirms your identity outside of “spouse” or “recovering addict,” enabling you to see yourself as a multifaceted individual with varied talents and passions. By diversifying your support network, you reduce the chance of any single relationship shouldering the entire burden of your recovery.

Co-parenting With An Individual With Substance Abuse Problems

In addictions counseling I frequently hear outrage that, “My partner still doesn’t trust me! The introduction of no-fault divorce laws allowed couples to separate without proving wrongdoing. This legal shift made divorce faster and more accessible nationwide. Experts now think the national divorce rate sits around 42%.

It’s important to remember that people can recover from addiction when they are willing to put in the time and effort to get better. If you or your spouse are struggling with addiction and would like to seek treatment before discussing divorce, many options are available to you. Filing for divorce and being granted a divorce are two different things. State law determines the process and outcome, and each state is different. Reach out to close family and friends you trust and ensure you have a secure support network and a temporary place to live.

The damage inflicted on the marriage from a person’s addiction will often take time and therapy to heal. If a partner undergoes treatment and can live a sober life, those wounds will not simply disappear. An addict does not need to be physically dependent on a drug to become addicted, but physical dependence can occur due to long-term drug use.