Addiction in Caregivers: The Hidden Crisis Among Those Who Support Others

Posted on by Joseph Gerard

Written by Jason Klimkowski,

Caregivers support those who can’t care for themselves for various reasons — including illness, disability, or aging. And since the global population is aging rapidly, caregiving is a widespread and growing role. According to recent estimates, tens of millions of people worldwide are caregivers to older adults or folks with chronic conditions. In the United States alone, over 40 million adults identify as caregivers each year. And similar trends are noticeable in other countries. Unfortunately, caregivers often juggle their role and other responsibilities, like jobs or raising families. Naturally, this causes huge amounts of daily stress and many assorted mental health challenges that can lead to addiction in caregivers. Escaping addiction is never easy, especially considering the nature of their role. Therefore, it is important to focus on the crisis among caregivers and their struggles with addiction.

Who Are Caregivers?

The two main types of stressed caregivers are:

  • Family (informal) caregivers — unpaid relatives or friends who assist loved ones with daily activities and medical tasks at home. They help with activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, feeding), manage medications, coordinate healthcare appointments, and provide emotional support.
  • Professional caregivers — personal support workers, hospice staff, and home health aides, often handling more complex medical procedures and monitoring.

Naturally, all caregivers, whether devoted family members or trained professionals, are responsible for the safety, health, and well-being of those in their care.

Addiction Among Caregivers

Unfortunately, addiction in caregivers is something society doesn’t discuss nearly enough — and addresses it even less. They develop substance abuse issues more often because they’re exposed to more stressors. Figures back this up, even though research on the topic isn’t plentiful.

According to some estimates, around 12% of US children live with a caregiver with substance abuse issues, meaning drugs and alcohol. Canadian research shows similar results, with 8–10% of caregivers using alcohol or other substances.

These figures are fairly comparable to addiction statistics among the general population. However, there are also caregivers of specific high-stress populations. Studies targeting caregivers in particularly demanding situations, like dementia care, show higher levels of risky substance use of around 18 percent.

The findings paint a clear picture. Namely, the higher the burden of a caregiving situation, the higher the risk of the caregiver developing addiction issues as a coping mechanism.

Professional Caregivers and Addiction

Addiction is also a concern among nurses, doctors, and other health professionals. Approximately 10% of healthcare workers are estimated to abuse drugs or alcohol during their careers.

Surveys of nurses show that around 18% suffer from substance use problems, with about 6–7% meeting criteria for a substance use disorder. In the case of medical professionals, proximity to medications is also an issue. Addiction in caregivers is more common among anesthesiologists and others with ready access to medications.

Behavioral Addiction

Not all types of addiction are easily noticeable. It is important to spot the signs in missed appointments, slurred words, and dramatic breakdowns. Sometimes, they may be less readily apparent, like in the cases of gambling disorders, internet addiction, and similar compulsive behaviors.

Caregivers facing long hours at home are susceptible to these behaviors as a form of escape — the simplest outlet for stress.

There’s no precise evidence showing the prevalence of these behaviors in caregivers, but their stress levels are comparable to those suffering from similar issues in the general population.

Recovery Post-Treatment

Most caregivers relapse because the environment around them stays the same. They leave treatment, go home, and walk right back into the same routines, same stress, same weight on their shoulders. That makes maintaining recovery after treatment ends especially challenging unless caregivers intentionally reshape their lives to support sobriety. It is important to know how to stay sober with the right strategy.

Caregivers can build a structured daily routine and prioritize self-care through healthy habits like exercise and balanced meals to reduce stress. Additionally, it is necessary to avoid toxic relationships and risky situations that might trigger relapse, celebrate milestones in the sobriety journey, and stay connected with ongoing therapy or support groups. Practical methods can help caregivers stay sober in their usual pre-treatment environment.

Shame, Guilt, and the Fear of Being Seen

Caregivers often feel like they are supposed to be the strong ones. They give help, no matter how bad it gets, and don’t complain. But what happens when they need help? Ironically, they feel guilty.

This guilt doesn’t come from pride. It’s fear. Fear that if they admit they’re struggling, people will perceive them as weak. Fear that the person they’re caring for will lose trust. So, they hide it and convince themselves that the problem is temporary.

If you’re a caregiver feeling like you’re on the verge of developing an addictive habit, try:

  • Telling one person you trust that you’re not doing okay
  • Writing it down in a notebook to get the truth out of your head
  • Scheduling a private call with a therapist who understands caregiver stress
  • Asking your doctor about what you’re taking and why
  • Joining an anonymous support group, even if you never speak the first time

Small steps matter.

Other Barriers To Seeking Help

Besides guilt and shame, there are also more practical barriers preventing caregivers from seeking help. Many caregivers feel they simply cannot step away from their responsibilities.

They simply feel their absence would have dire consequences for their loved ones. For example, an around-the-clock caregiver of a dementia patient may not have anyone to cover for them. This prevents them from attending an outpatient program, let alone an inpatient detox.

Respite care services are either unavailable or the caregiver is unaware of them. This time barrier is huge. And as a result, caregivers put the patient’s schedule of needs ahead of their own recovery.

Furthermore, addiction often saps motivation and energy. A caregiver in the depths of substance dependence may be so physically unwell or emotionally drained that the effort to find and engage in treatment feels overwhelming.

The Toll on Relationships

The personal dynamic between caregivers and care recipients often suffers when addiction is involved. Sometimes, the care recipient feels guilt, believing they “caused” the caregiver’s troubles. This is especially common in spousal caregiving situations.

On the other hand, the addicted caregiver might oscillate between emotional distance and outbursts of anger or mood swings. In most cases, this is caused by substance effects or withdrawal.

Over time, trust between everyone involved erodes. In families, other relatives may have to step in, creating further stress or conflict within the family. The care recipient’s own health can deteriorate due to missed care. This creates an environment where the caregiver might spiral further into a destructive feedback loop.

Other Consequences

More broadly, addiction in caregivers leads to a loss of skilled workers in healthcare. Often, affected nurses or doctors lose their licenses due to substance misuse. Also, it can increase healthcare costs, for example, if an elder’s caregiver neglect leads to hospitalization, or if a child is taken into foster care because a parent needs addiction treatment.

There are also public safety concerns. There have been cases where an impaired caregiver might drive with their dependent in the car, risking accidents. Society entrusts caregivers with a vulnerable population, so when addiction undermines that role, the fallout can extend to increased burden on social services and medical systems.

Practical Tools for Staying Sober While Caregiving

Recovery gets tested the minute you’re back in your routine. That’s why it helps to have practical tools. Not just ideas, but actual actions to take when the path to recovery hangs in the balance. Especially for caregivers, staying sober has to work in real-time, with real stress, and very little free space.

Here are a few tools that make a real difference:

  • Build a daily rhythm. Even a loose routine helps. That might be coffee, a short walk, or a check-in call. Something that marks your day outside of caregiving tasks.
  • Know your triggers. Write them down. Be specific. Is it the late-night silence? The guilt after an argument? The isolation? Knowing what sets you off makes it easier to respond properly.
  • Set micro-boundaries. You don’t have to overhaul your life. But even saying “no” once a day, or taking 10 minutes for yourself, adds up. Boundaries protect your energy.
  • Use support that fits your schedule. Online meetings with an addiction recovery therapist, texting a sponsor, and quick breathing exercises can work wonders even with a tight schedule.
  • Acknowledge every step. Did you skip a drink tonight? Did you pause instead of reacting? That counts as progress.

The Strongest People Need Help Too

People don’t always notice when you’re in trouble, especially if you’re the one who’s always had the answers and made things better.

If you’re deep in it, barely sleeping, and self-medicating just to function, you’re not failing. You’re simply overwhelmed. And you deserve help. Real help, now.

Addiction in caregivers isn’t a character flaw. It’s a survival response in a system that asks too much and offers too little. But you can ask for support. And you can rebuild in a way that includes you, too.

Bio: Jason Klimkowski, MBA, is an SEO & Content Manager with a background in logistics, digital marketing, and mental health writing.

 

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Please also review AIHCP’s Substance Abuse Practitioner Certification program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals.  These programs are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification