Love and Drugs: How to Have a Relationship With a Drug Addict

In any given year, about 20 million people in the United States are battling drug addiction.

Addiction doesn’t just harm the health and wellbeing of the addict. It can destroy families, ruin social relationships, and derail the socio-economic development of a community.

If you’re in a romantic relationship with a drug addict, you know only too well how damaging the condition can be. It’s a trying time for you, but you don’t have to give up on love. With the right information, you can still make something out of the relationship.

Continue reading to learn how to have a relationship with a drug addict.

Develop a Good Understanding of the Addiction

The first step to having a functional relationship with an addict is to understand the nature of the addiction. This is because various drugs and hard substances affect their victims differently.

Is your lover addicted to prescription medicines? Are they hooked on heroin or cocaine? Are they addicted to marijuana? Do they have multiple addictions?

When you have an intricate understanding of the addiction your loved one has, it easier to find effective ways to handle the situation. Some drug addictions are more crippling than others, so if your partner is addicted to the hard substances, you’ll automatically know that you have a tougher job to do than if they’re addicted to prescription drugs.

You must also know How to Help a Drug Addict Without Burning Out.

What’s the State of Your Relationship?

Of course, drugs affect the user’s ability to function socially. Some addicts will become violent. Others will withdraw from their loved ones. And yet others will strive to maintain a regular relationship with their partners.

With this in mind, what’s the state of your relationship?

If your partner still tries to maintain a good relationship with you, there’s no doubt you’re in a better position than if they were violent or reclusive. In the former situation, it’s easy to hold a conversation and tell them how their addiction is affecting you. Sometimes a hearty conversation is all someone needs to turn their life around.

Stage an Intervention

Let’s face it: drugs and love are opposing forces. They can’t co-exist, however hard you might try.

The most important thing you can do to salvage your relationship while helping your partner is to stage an intervention. Now, staging an intervention doesn’t mean showing up one morning with a few friends or relatives and drugging them into a rehabilitation facility.

There are a lot of factors to consider when staging an intervention; otherwise, you could run into fierce resistance from the addict. This will harm your relationship further.

Once in rehab, continue being close to the addict. Listen to them. After rehab, be there for them. It’s easier to overcome addiction when you have people to help with your journey. The same applies to your partner.

Keep Learning How to Have a Relationship with a Drug Addict

Having a relationship with a normal person is already hard enough. Imagine how difficult it can be to be in a relationship with a drug addict. It’s difficult, but it’s also possible to conquer the odds. With this guide on how to have a relationship with a drug addict, you’re now in a better position to make your relationship work.

All the best and keep reading our blog for more tips and insights.