📸: Just for illustrations
What begins as a casual drink can slowly spiral into a crisis that tears families apart.
Across many homes, alcohol abuse is quietly fueling emotional pain, triggering depression, anxiety, and deepening conflict between couples sometimes with devastating consequences if left unaddressed.
Marriages affected by alcohol abuse are more vulnerable to emotional distress.
Studies by the World Health Organization show that harmful alcohol use is linked to increased cases of depression, anxiety disorders, and domestic conflict.
In many cases, one or both partners experience prolonged stress, which gradually erodes emotional stability and the overall health of the relationship.
According to the World Health Organization, harmful alcohol consumption contributes to over 3 million deaths globally each year and is associated with higher rates of intimate partner violence and family breakdown.
In Zambia and across sub-Saharan Africa, rising alcohol consumption, particularly among young adults, has raised concern among mental health advocates about its impact on marriages and family life.
According to Swala Pilu Executive Director Mary Kufanga, alcohol abuse in marriages can have serious mental health consequences for both partners, often leading to depression, anxiety, and prolonged stress if not addressed early.
“Over time, excessive drinking can strain communication and trust, causing relationships to deteriorate,” she explained.
“As conflicts increase and emotional distance grows, many couples find their marriages becoming unstable, sometimes ending in separation or divorce, with both partners experiencing worsening emotional well-being.”
If neglecting family responsibilities and causing harm aren’t clear enough warning signs, what will it take for couples to seek help before it’s too late?
Ms. Kufanga advises that when couples begin to notice signs of emotional or physical harm, or when one starts neglecting family responsibilities such as finances and parenting, it is a clear warning sign to seek help.
“Affected individuals should visit health facilities for professional support, including individual counseling or couples therapy, or speak to a trusted elder or counselor before the situation worsens,” she said.
Within marriages, the effects are often deeply personal and long-lasting.
Frequent misunderstandings, emotional distance, and unresolved conflicts can create an unstable environment, leaving both partners feeling isolated and overwhelmed.
Over time, this emotional strain may lead to separation or divorce, while also affecting children who grow up in such environments.
And if the marriage itself doesn’t survive, what hope is left for the children who inherit its wounds?They often carry the psychological impact into their own lives.
Pastor Conrad Mununka of Agape Baptist Church in Ndola says he has encountered cases where individuals reported being mistreated by their partners when alcohol was involved.
“In that moment, my first response was to listen carefully and take their experience seriously,” he said, stressing that abuse whether physical, emotional, or verbal is not acceptable, and it is not something God desires for anyone.
He emphasized the importance of safety, noting that if someone is in immediate danger, it is important that they seek help right away whether from trusted family members, church leadership, or appropriate authorities.
“There’s no excuse for abusive behavior. Each person is responsible for their actions,” he said.
“The church should be a place of refuge, not a place where suffering is hidden.”