The decision to enter opium addiction treatment can be wrought with indecision and fear, especially when a relationship hangs in the balance. The effects of opium addiction drive a person to think and act in ways he or she normally wouldn’t, with friends and loved ones bearing the brunt of this behavior.

While holding an important relationship together can mean all the difference in the world in terms of keeping your motivation going, the issues addressed in opium addiction recovery require one’s full focus and attention in order to overcome addiction’s hold in your life. Ultimately, taking back control of your life from opium addiction offers the best chance at saving your relationship in the long run.

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The Psychological Effects of Opium Addiction

According to the National Safety Council, opium abuse has a cumulative effect on brain function, compromising a person’s decision-making abilities, judgement and priorities over time. Consequently, by the time a full-blown addiction takes hold, it’s all but impossible for a person to manage his or her own life, let alone address problems within a relationship.

Relationship problems between spouses or life partners require a day-in, day-out commitment as daily interactions and communication patterns have likely suffered as a result of opium addiction’s effects. Trying to overcome an addiction problem and mend a relationship at the same time leaves a person wide open for relapse and continued drug use. Ultimately, this can cause more harm than good as far as the health of the relationship is concerned.

Opium Addiction Treatment

By keeping your partner involved in your recovery, they’ll gain a better understanding of your situation.

Depending on the severity of your addiction, opium addiction treatment may encompass a series of treatment stages, each of which addresses different aspects of addiction. While someone coming off a mild or early stage addiction may only require detox and outpatient treatment help, people recovering from chronic, long-term opium addiction will likely require one or more of the following in addiction to detox and outpatient care:

• Short term residential treatment
• Inpatient treatment
• Long term residential treatment
• Sober living program

Both sober living and residential treatment entail living at the facility for the duration of the program. While this may seem harsh, separating the “addict” from the addiction lifestyle offers the only means of breaking the hold addiction has on a person’s thinking and behaviors.

Involving Your Partner in the Recovery Process

Opium addiction not only harms the addict, but the family as well. As a person becomes more entrenched within the addiction, relationships in the home can only but suffer in light of how this condition affects a person’s thinking and behaviors.

For these reasons, opium addiction treatment programs encourage family/partner participation throughout the treatment process. According to the University of Washington, benefits of including your partner in the treatment process include:

• He or she will gain a better understanding of what you’re going through
• Your partner can take steps to address his or her own issues in the relationship
• You and your partner will be on the same page when it comes time for you to return home

If you or someone you know is considering opium addiction treatment but have concerns about leaving a broken relationship unattended, please feel free to call our toll-free helpline at 888-959-0638 to speak with one of our addictions specialists.

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