Question

the nurse is talking with the spouse of a client admitted for substance use disorder and overdose. which statement(s) made by the spouse indicates that they are exhibiting enabling behaviors? select all that apply.

Answer 1

The spouse is exhibiting enabling behaviors by offering financial support, making excuses or covering up the consequences, and denying or rationalizing the addiction.

Step-by-step explanation:

Enabling behaviors refer to actions or statements made by someone close to a person with substance use disorder that unintentionally support or perpetuate their addictive behaviors instead of promoting recovery. Based on the given information, the following statements made by the spouse indicate that they are exhibiting enabling behaviors:

• Offering financial support to continue substance use: If the spouse is providing money or resources to the client to sustain their substance use, it is an enabling behavior that hinders recovery.
• Making excuses or covering up the consequences of substance use: If the spouse is minimizing or hiding the negative consequences of the client's substance use, they are enabling their behavior by shielding them from the natural consequences.
• Denying or rationalizing the client's addiction: If the spouse refuses to acknowledge that the client has a substance use disorder or makes excuses for their behavior, it enables the addiction by normalizing it or downplaying its severity.