Content medically reviewed by Vicky Magobet, PMHNP-BC, on March 1, 2021.
You're probably the person who knows your spouse best. If you are worried your partner may be struggling with substance abuse, it's important to help them seek treatment before the problem gets out of hand.
It's not always easy to identify substance abuse, but any of these five signs may indicate a problem.
If your spouse's substance use is significant, they may try to hide it from you. You may find empty alcohol bottles, unmarked pill containers or other paraphernalia stashed around the house. Your partner may also use substances outside your home and then lie about it.
This deception could indicate that they are aware their substance use is a problem, and they may be open to treatment.
If you find that your partner is acting out of character, it may indicate a substance abuse issue. Your reliable, hard-working spouse may disappear with no explanation, lose their job or shirk other responsibilities.
Substance abuse is all-consuming. Responsibilities aside, your spouse may also seem to lose interest in things that used to be personally important to them, like hobbies and friends.
Over time, people with substance abuse problems develop higher tolerance levels and require more drugs or alcohol to achieve the same effects. They buy more and more substances to chasing the feelings they once had.
Keep an eye on shared bank accounts and budgets. If you notice that your spouse is borrowing money, stealing or lying about where money has gone, they may have a problem.
People who are struggling with addiction often show physical signs of their use, including:
Combined with other concerns, these symptoms can be significant indications of physical dependency.
Continued substance abuse is hard on a person's body and can lead to many health issues. Drugs and alcohol can take a toll on the brain, heart, lungs, liver and kidneys. Substantial weight loss or hygienic issues related to drug use can also cause significant declines in health.
These problems will only get worse with continued use. If you find that your spouse is experiencing substance-related health issues, encourage them to seek help immediately.
Any one of these signs could indicate that your partner is struggling with substance abuse or addiction. The sooner you can get them to seek treatment at a rehab facility, the sooner they can begin to reclaim their life.
At Diamond House Detox, we can help your spouse through every phase of their recovery. We provide a warm, caring environment with 24/7 attention from drug and alcohol counselors, mental health professionals and licensed medical staff. We'll support you and your spouse as they work toward recovery.
Get your loved one the help they need. Contact us today for more information.
