If you’re a single mother who struggles with an addiction to or dependence on drugs or alcohol, then you may feel like all is lost.
Motherhood is extremely challenging, and doing it on your own is even more difficult. When you add a substance abuse disorder to the mix, it may seem like the odds are stacked against you and that you can’t succeed.
Of course, you want to do right by your child or children more than anything. You need to make a significant change in your life – not only for them but for yourself as well.
There is hope. People can and do recover from addiction, and there is drug treatment for single mothers out there. Many women have succeeded before you, and you can, too.
Read on to learn more about your drug treatment options. You can break free from your addictions.
Single Parents and Addiction
Anyone can become addicted to drugs or alcohol. Some people are more susceptible than others, but all types of people can become dependent on these substances. In many cases, addiction runs in families. Still, even people who have no history of drug or alcohol abuse in their family tree can find themselves with a substance abuse disorder.
Single parents may be more vulnerable to drug and alcohol use and abuse than others. As anyone will tell you, being a single parent is hard.
Many single parents are responsible for every aspect of their child’s care; they are doing it all alone. They must be available to help with homework, be a disciplinarian, offer love and support, and make sure all of their children’s needs are met. It can be very overwhelming and stressful.
As a result, some single parents turn to drugs or alcohol to help them cope. At first, these substances are merely a short-term escape, but occasional use can turn into regular or even daily use quickly.
Soon, a single mother may realize that she has a drug or alcohol problem. Knowing that she is the only person there for her child or children, she may not know where to turn for help.
Recovery Is Crucial
If you are a single mother struggling with addiction, you must get help right away.
You can’t live like this, and it’s not good for your children, either. Although you may think that drug or alcohol use is helping you to keep everything properly balanced, when you step back and look at the situation, you’ll see that’s not at all the case.
The sooner you seek help, the better. As long as you struggle with your substance abuse disorder, your children will struggle along with you.
The psychological effects of growing up in a household with a parent who is addicted to drugs are vast. Due to your substance abuse, your children may suffer from neglect, too, even though that’s the last thing on earth that you would intend.
When you use drugs or alcohol around your children, even if you think you are hiding it well, they will be saddled with emotional disturbances that can last them a lifetime. If you continue to use and abuse drugs or alcohol in a worst-case scenario, your children could be removed from your care and could be put into foster care.
No one wants that.
Your addiction will negatively affect your children, no matter what.
It’s time to act.
Drug Treatment for Single Mothers
Single mothers often shy away from the idea of addiction treatment because they don’t want to leave their children. In many cases, they may not have to.
Fortunately, many drug treatment options offer single parents the opportunity to pursue treatment while still acting as parents to their children full-time.
When it comes to drug treatment for single mothers, there are options available.
Outpatient Treatment
There are many different outpatient options for drug treatment. There, they will participate in group therapy and individual counseling to help them discover the root causes of their addictions, strategies to break free from them, and tools to help them stay clean and sober in both the short and long term.
This type of treatment requires individuals to go to a recovery center on a regular basis. Meanwhile, they can return home to be with their children each day and can be there for them when they are needed.
People who pursue outpatient addiction recovery treatment can also continue to work at their regular job. Outpatient rehabilitation clinics will work with you to develop a treatment schedule that can work with your current schedule.
Inpatient Treatment
In some cases, inpatient treatment for addiction is necessary to begin walking on a clean and sober path. Inpatient treatment programs vary in length, but many are a month long.
It is important to remember that receiving rehabilitation treatment is the goal. With that being said, it will be challenging to be away from your children for a month or more during treatment.
It can be difficult to find childcare to attend inpatient treatment, but there are options available.
If a friend or relative knows you are struggling and that you are trying to change your life for the better, ask for help. He or she may be able to provide care for your children while you focus on yourself and your family’s future.
Partial Hospitalization Treatment
One other option for drug treatment for single mothers is partial hospitalization treatment. This is a combination of both of the above options.
In partial hospitalization treatment, you will spend each full day at the rehabilitation treatment center for intensive addiction recovery support. However, each night, you will be able to go home and sleep in your own bed, feed and love on your children, and tuck them in at night.
This option can be pretty helpful for many single mothers. The structure makes it easy to take care of yourself and your children at the same time.
You Can Break Free
As you can see, drug treatment for single mothers is possible. There are options available to you.
If you are struggling with addiction to drugs or alcohol, it is crucial that you seek treatment right away. It may seem challenging at first, but it will be worth it. Do it for your kids, and most of all, do it for yourself. You can break free.