Divorce in Texas is always awful. When a spouse is struggling with alcohol addiction, things are worse. Alcohol abuse can be used as a factor in determining spousal support and the division of marital property. Parents who abuse alcohol can be ordered to limit their interaction with children to supervised visits: They may even lose the ability to see children. Courts can order divorcing parents to have drug tests and alcoholism assessment and education programs.
Alcohol use is a big deal when it comes to divorce in Texas. But it’s more important than who has an advantage during legal proceedings. It’s about getting someone you love the needed help. For their family’s sake, and for their own.
An estimated 1.5 million Texans are dependent on alcohol or drugs. Each year, 88,000 people die from alcohol-related causes. One estimate is that alcoholics divorce at three times the rate of those who are not alcohol-dependent. One out of every four children is exposed to family alcohol dependence, alcohol abuse, or both. Children of alcoholics are more likely to live through economic and social upheaval. They’re more likely to be abused. They’re more likely to become alcoholics themselves.
If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol, and you don’t know where to turn, here are some resources to begin your search:
For a free legal consultation, call (972) 535-6377
First, the National Institute on Drug Abuse has this brief overview of types of treatment programs available.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has a national 24-hour hotline, 1-800-662-HELP (in English and Spanish), as well as a website to identify treatment facilities in your area.
An affiliate of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, the Fort Worth-based nonprofit Recovery Resource Council has a community referral hotline, available 24 hours a day. They also have other clinical services, events and educational programs.
If you’re interested in seeing what patients have to say about local rehabilitation centers, Rehabs.com offers professional descriptions of different facilities, along with reviews by patients who have sought treatment at those locations.
Psychology Today also publishes a list of local mental health practitioners who focus on drug and alcohol treatment.
If a community-based approach has more appeal, there are more than 60 chapters of Alcoholics Anonymous running meetings in the McKinney, Texas, area. You can find a listing here.
For those affected by a loved one’s addiction who also want support, Al-Anon offers at least seven different meetings per week in the area.
The key to surviving divorce is to get help. Please consider calling us, to see how we can help you during this difficult time.
Call or text (972) 535-6377 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
