Truth About Relationships and Addictions

Substance Abuse and Intimacy

If people are abusing alcohol and drugs then it can be almost impossible for them to maintain intimate relationships. This is because these substances will become their obsession, and there will be no room for anyone else. As the individual falls further into addiction they may even lose all interest in sex completely. Addiction drives the individual into a world of delusion and selfish action. It will not be possible for another human to trust them fully, and this will prove to be a barrier to intimacy. The addict is still likely to have people who love them, but there will be a sense of wariness mixed in with the affection. The person who is abusing alcohol or drugs may feel almost incapable of feeling true affection for other people – they are too self obsessed to think beyond their own needs.