Codependency and the Drunk Driver

It is difficult enough to have a problem with alcohol that leads you to drink and drive.  Add to that a well meaning spouse, partner, friend or loved one who is codependent and the difficulty is magnified many times over.

According to Wikipedia, codependency is “is a tendency to behave in overly passive or excessively caretaking ways that negatively impact one's relationships and quality of life.”  

It doesn’t take much to realize how potentially damaging a codependent relationship might be to the drunk driver.  The codependent partner might tend to make excuses for the behavior as a way to justify wrongdoing but there is simply no excuse for driving drunk and such attempts to make things seem somehow less severe only serve to have the opposite effect.  The average drunk driver will tell you that they were perfectly capable of operating the vehicle they were driving, that they were not drunk at all.  A codependent’s excuses give them justification and support that will have a negative impact in the long run.

If you or someone you love has a problem with alcohol and driving under the influence, don’t make excuses or try to justify their behavior.  The time to stop excusing the problem is now and you must be a part of the solution.  Tell your loved one of your concerns and ask that they seek help before they endanger their own life or someone else’s again.  Be a true friend and tell them to call you before getting behind the wheel the next time they have had a few drinks.  Better yet, go out and enjoy time with your friends and offer to be the designated driver.