Male partners of substance-abusing women in treatment: an exploratory study

Despite evidence for the importance of significant others in the recovery process, little is known about male partners of female substance abusers. This paper presents a qualitative exploratory study conducted to learn more about male partners of crack/cocaine-addicted women and specifically examines the men's influence on the treatment and recovery process of their female partners. Subjects were found to have an extensive history of substance abuse and some experience with treatment; three-quarters were active crack/cocaine users. Although their attitude toward women's substance abuse was negative and their opinion of treatment for women positive, men's behavioral support for their partners was usually passive and inconsistent. Reasons are discussed why male partners of female drug users in treatment generally were resistant to active participation in family-oriented treatment: the men's active drug use, their desire to maintain the status quo in the relationship, possible focus on their own recovery, divergent views about treatment goals, and the desire to minimize stigma by association.