Living With An Addicted Person

I have a son who keeps telling me he isn't doing drugs any more.My question is if he had been using a needle how long will the needle marks stay on his arm.He claims he hasn't done no drugs for the last 12 days but the marks are still on his arm.I know very little about this kind of thing.
Depending on his age which he sounds relatively young,fresh trackmarks are usually gone within 3 or 4 days.If he's been mailining for years there will be scars that don't go away.Also addicts will tend to inject in the same spots which can cause inflamation.

There is a friend and families board on this site you might find helpful.Compromising your own serenity by constantly worrying about "is he or isn't he?" is where the disease starts effecting family members.You might consider Alanon or Naranon meetings to learn a little more about all the dynamics of addiction.
Here is a linkMy Webpage

A good book you might want to research is"Addict In the Family" by Beverly Conyers.

You can't control or fix this and you didn't cause it.If he is underage and living at home you certainly can do random UA test.I have mixed feelings about this.I prefer time spent in treatment for both of you and also at some point if he is trying to get clean,trust becomes a big healing factor.That doesn't mean you have to be a doormat but giving someone consequences can be the biggest act of love there is.Consequences are not emotional fits of rage with threats and used as tools to dump your frustrations.They can be level headed decisions but tough ones."If you're caught using again you will have to get a new place to live."
Then you have to live up to it.

Addicts are use to threats and become master manipulators out of necessity.This isn't cynicism but simply a fact.

Good Luck