Even if you have a good chance of having a favorable outcome, your child custody case is going to be stressful. You should be careful about how you cope with your elevated stress levels, though. After all, according to the Partnership To End Addiction, stress can cause a person to abuse alcohol or drugs.
Drug and alcohol addiction can be detrimental to virtually all aspects of your life, from your career to your physical and mental health. It also can cause catastrophic damage to your child custody case. Consequently, if you are struggling with dependency issues, it is undoubtedly time to get some help.
The best interests of the child
In Maryland, judges have a legal duty to come up with custody determinations that align with the best interests of the affected child. As you might suspect, having a parent who has a drug or alcohol addiction is not in the best interests of anyone. Accordingly, a judge may use your drug or alcohol dependency as one reason to restrict your parenting time.
Your legal options
Drug and alcohol addiction does not have to last forever, but the possibility of losing custody of your kids may make it more difficult to stay sober. Therefore, you should be sure you understand your situation, including all available legal options. Remember, when it comes to both child custody and addiction, knowledge can be powerful.
While drug and alcohol dependence certainly can damage your child custody case, seeking treatment can have the opposite effect. Ultimately, if you are actively working on your recovery, you probably have a much better chance of keeping custody of your kids.