Author Interviews / 30.04.2026
Can Two People Actually Get Sober Together — Or Does One Always Pull the Other Down?
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It's the question every clinician has heard from a worried family member at intake: "They're both using. If we send them both to treatment, won't they just relapse together?"
It's a fair question. It's also, according to a surprisingly robust body of research, the wrong one. The better question is whether the couple gets the right kind of treatment — because the data on couples in recovery is more nuanced, and more hopeful, than the conventional wisdom suggests.
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If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available.
Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. To learn how to get support for mental health, drug or alcohol conditions, visit FindSupport.gov. If you are ready to locate a treatment facility or provider, visit FindTreatment.gov or call 800-662-HELP (4357).
U.S. veterans or service members in crisis can call 988 then press "1" for the Veterans Crisis Line, text 838255, or chat online.
The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has a Spanish language line at 1-888-628-9454 (toll-free).