The Problem with Romantic Relationships that Prevail Through Addictions

NEW YORK - Oct. 2, 2018 - PRLog -- After singer Mac Miller died of an alleged drug overdose, many fans were quick to blame his ex-girlfriend, singer Ariana Grande. The pattern has been seen in other similar cases where a person who's in the public eye gets blamed for the consequences of a partner's struggles.

In such cases, the substance use disorder is to blame, according to Dr. Romas Buivydas, Ph.D., LMHC, and vice president of clinical development for Spectrum Health Systems, a nonprofit organization that has offered mental health and addiction treatment services across Massachusetts since 1969.

"Almost every behavior can reinforce addictive behaviors because a substance use disorder changes the brain of the user," he said. "Consequently their cognitive abilities of how they perceive things. As result, the dynamics of their behavior affect the dynamics of a relationship. Long-time Alcoholic Anonymous and Narcotic Anonymous members have long advised for abstinence from relationships."

Refraining from romantic relationships is recommended to individuals who are looking to stay away from using substances for many reasons. But Buivydas said that such recommendation is primarily related to the fact that a person's brain needs to heal from the effects of the drugs used.

"Most experienced clinicians tend to recommend at least a year of stable recovery before re-engaging in new relationships," he said. "For those who remained in relationships in which the partner was also engaging in non-recovery-oriented behaviors, most would try to assist the client in early recovery to recognize the inherent dangers and move on from that relationship. In relationships where the partner is healthy and recovery-oriented, most would say that the partner also needs support, having endured many hardships while the addicted partner was in treatment and is now in early recovery."

Buivydas explained that there are specific issues that tend to be commonly associated with mixing romantic relationships and addictions.

"Mixing the two can have some serious long-term consequences," he said. "Not only can physical and sexual consequences occur, such as the feeling of increased drive due to stimulants. For example, this can certainly change the dynamics of a relationship when the using partner wants more sex, but in time, their drive is diminished from prolonged stimulants use. Other drugs also have their own effects on sexual performance, such as diminished non-sexual intimacy. And harmful behaviors, as the result of addiction to substances, can be in the forms of multiple types of abuse ranging from manipulation and lying to yelling and screaming, to physical attacks. Trust and safety become diminished or non-existent."

Lack of trust is among the many reasons why substance use disorders have long been linked to troublesome interpersonal relationships.

The topic was explored by a recent study — A Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Associations between Substance Use and Interpersonal Attachment Security — led by members of the American Psychological Association and published in May in the Psychological Bulletin. The study revealed that lower attachment security in relationships was significantly associated with future substance use. The link between pre-existing drug use followed by attachment in relationships was not as significant. The study also suggested that individuals who have connections marked by insecure attachment might be more vulnerable to substance use.

Another peer-reviewed study, published in August in the Journal of Adolescent Health, aimed to find the link between detrimental relationships and substance use among teenagers.

The researchers analyzed surveys answered by 1,875 high school students during two consecutive semesters. Results revealed that the teens who misused prescription drugs had higher chances of experiencing sexual violence and dating violence perpetration and victimization.

The researchers also concluded that misusing both prescription drugs and alcohol should be seen as a risk factor for future sexual violence as well as dating violence among teens.

For people of all ages, support and professional addiction treatment should be keywords when relationships prevail through substance use disorders, Buivydas emphasized.

"If a using person is in a relationship, first and foremost the other non-using partner should seek out support or be referred to someone who can provide support and even advice. If needed, support groups and licensed clinicians are out there. For the using person, they should be made aware that without treatment and support for themselves, their relationship will suffer and most likely end badly."

https://www.drugaddictionnow.com/2018/10/02/romantic-rela...