Can Inpatient Drug Rehabilitation Help My Spouse?

Is your spouse struggling with addiction? Has it put a strain on your marriage and made it very difficult in not only their life but yours as well? Inpatient drug rehab may be the answer in this case, as having a spouse who is under the weight of an addiction can not only be problematic for your marriage but for every aspect of your lives together.

When you and your spouse decide that treatment is right for them and are considering inpatient drug rehab, you should both ask yourselves and each other if this type of treatment is right for your situation. Depending on their needs as well as yours, inpatient drug rehab may be very helpful to your spouse (and to you as well).

Choosing Inpatient Drug Rehab

A couple should decide together whether inpatient rehab is the best plan.

There are many reasons why you and your spouse may choose inpatient drug rehab in order to help them receive the best treatment possible. The NIDA states, “No single treatment is appropriate for everyone,” and “effective treatment attends to multiple needs of the individual, not just his or her drug abuse.” In some cases, other individuals may tell you what has worked for them, but you should remember to take their advice with the knowledge that their situation is different from yours. Your spouse’s treatment should be effective for them first and foremost and be compatible with their needs.

You and your spouse may decide together that inpatient drug rehab is the best option. Here are some of the reasons why inpatient drug rehab may be most effective for your spouse.

Your spouse is suffering from a co-occurring disorder such as depression, bipolar disorder, an anxiety disorder, or another type of mental illness that is causing problems for them. It may be making their addiction worse which is why, in inpatient treatment, they can receive therapy for both issues which can help them have a better recovery.
Your spouse is dealing with intense amounts of stress from work, family, or other parts of their life. It may be necessary for your spouse to be away from home for a while to work through these issues and deal with their addiction in a less stressful environment. This will allow them to have a more focused recovery, especially during the most difficult time.
Your spouse is suffering from some other type of physical problem or problems that have resulted from their addiction to a substance. For example, chronic heroin users “may develop collapsed veins, infection of the heart lining and valves, abscesses (pus-filled infections), liver disease, and lung-related complications such as pneumonia” (CESAR). Someone who is dealing with issues like these, or has contracted a disease like HIV or hepatitis C from sharing needles, may need to attend inpatient rehab so they can be treated for physical issues as well as the addiction itself. Many inpatient facilities are built to provide patients with all the care of a regular hospital, which would be what your spouse will need in this case.
Your spouse is refusing treatment. Some individuals may refuse to go into treatment which can be extremely difficult on their friends and loved ones. According to the NIDA, “Treatment does not need to be voluntary to be effective,” and someone whose spouse is refusing treatment may choose to have them attend an inpatient facility if necessary. “Sanctions or enticements from family, employment setting, and/or the criminal justice system can significantly increase treatment entry, retention rates, and the ultimate success of drug treatment interventions.”
Your spouse does not have the kind of social support they may need at home. If you are the only one helping to support your spouse through their addiction, it can be very difficult to do so and it still might not even be enough.
Your spouse needs 24-hour care. Whether it is because they are dealing with physical or mental issues or are likely to relapse, you may want to consider inpatient drug rehabilitation for your spouse. Doctors and nurses will care for them 24 hours a day which you may not be able to as a result of other obligations.

If you and your spouse are dealing with any of the issues listed above, inpatient drug rehab could be the answer you are looking for. While many of these problems can occur simultaneously, no one issue should be overlooked as recovery is strongest when all of a person’s problems (drug-related and non-drug-related) are addressed in treatment.

Inpatient rehab is a great option for those who are struggling with a more intense type of addiction, one that either entails other issues or is just very strong in itself. Your spouse may benefit from inpatient drug rehab if they are dealing with severe addiction and major issues because of it.