by: Debbie Wicker

Dear Sheryl,

Drug abuse is a very difficult problem and you certainly need to be VERY concerned about your husband’s use of crack cocaine. Drug addiction is a disease of the brain that needs immediate treatment, left untreated it is often fatal.

The questions I would would ask are:

1. How often does he use?

2. Does he abuse any other drugs including alcohol?

3. How long ago was he in treatment and how long did he remain sober after treatment?

It is a very positive step that he admitted his drug abuse to you. Now, you and he must go to a doctor and find out what steps he needs to go through to get sober again.

If he is willing to get treatment again, your marriage can survive this. But the next year will be critical and he must be willing to quit.

I would recommend that you both begin attending 12 step meetings and working the steps. Statistics show that when both of you work the steps it is significantly more likely that your husband will be able to remain sober.

Good luck, there is ALWAYS hope,

Debbie