First off, I want to say to everybody out there, congradulations!!! I have been reading your posts for the past week and a half. I am so proud of all of you. Now to why I am here. It has taken me this long to get up the courage to ask for any input ya'll might have. I am not user, but my brother is. It started years ago with different drugs. He fell off a scaffold quite a few years back. Of course developed severe back pain. As an end result now, he is 100% disabled. He still works off and on, mainly to get his pills. He has been doing this for a while. He finally got in a program with retired doctors, who help people w/no insurance or money. They referred him to a pain mgmt. doc. who then took him off oxycontin and put him on methodone. He was up to 60mg. of methodone and 30 mg. of hydrocodone per day. On his last visit the beginning of last week, there were pills missing. The doc got mad and released him with a 2 week supply of 2 pills a day to get him off. As I understand from reading thats virtually impossible. He of course took more and ran out. My sisters and myself finally talked him in to a detox center last sat. The doc put him on sub. The problem is now, my brother is saying he is better now and wishes to get out and continue on his own. I know him and this would not work in a million years. He will go back to the old ways of getting them off the street in order to work.My sisters and I are at a loss as to what to do. This has been an on going battle for sometime. If he comes out, I hate to be cold and hard, but he would be on his own. We cant help him anymore, unless he wants to help himself. Which obviously(sp) he is not willing to do. Any suggestions or imput? I am sorry about the long post, it's as short as story as I could get.By the way, my brother is 51 years old. Thank you for listening.
Hi LilSis;
I am so impressed with how you are trying to help your brother get and stay clean! Addiction is such a terrible disease, unfortunately I think you answered your own question. First things first, your brother has to want it - he has to reach out for help and say enough is enough! You can offer support and encouragement, but the burden in all on him. Sorry if this sounds harsh...it's just the way it is.
There is another forum here for family and friends of addicts. You might want to look into that for support and advice.
I pray that your brother sees the light and surrenders to this awful disease!
Take care;
Jim
I am so impressed with how you are trying to help your brother get and stay clean! Addiction is such a terrible disease, unfortunately I think you answered your own question. First things first, your brother has to want it - he has to reach out for help and say enough is enough! You can offer support and encouragement, but the burden in all on him. Sorry if this sounds harsh...it's just the way it is.
There is another forum here for family and friends of addicts. You might want to look into that for support and advice.
I pray that your brother sees the light and surrenders to this awful disease!
Take care;
Jim
Dear JR1954, Thank you so much for your reply. Fortunately he is still in the facility as of today. According to the doctor he will be there for 5 more days, unless of course he decides to sign himself out.The head nurse says that physically, because of the drug abuse over the years, he will die soon without help. I guess we will just have to take it one day at a time and pray he will see the light and continue on with the rehab once he is fully detoxed.Again thank you for viewing my post and you will stay in my prayers along with everyone else out there who needs it. Take care of yourself. Lilsis
Lilsis,
I wish nothing but the best for all of you. This is not an easy road no matter what side you are on.......I walk it with my husband........
I truely hope that your brother stays and completes treatment and that he keeps on fighting when he is home, he is so worth it......
Keep the faith........
Love,
Tina
I wish nothing but the best for all of you. This is not an easy road no matter what side you are on.......I walk it with my husband........
I truely hope that your brother stays and completes treatment and that he keeps on fighting when he is home, he is so worth it......
Keep the faith........
Love,
Tina
Hey Lilsis,
First of all WELCOME to the board xxx I am a recovering heroin addict, and the bottom line is only your brother can do this, this is where it gets really frustrating for our loved ones cos they wish they could do it for us but with addiction its only the addict that can help themselves, of course you can be there for him to offer support ect, but ultimately the choice is HIS and only his, does HE want to get and stay clean, cos only he can do it for himself.
Like Jim says there is a forum on this board dedicated to family and friends, people who know what you are going through xxx
I wish you all the luck in the world
Love
Gabbi
First of all WELCOME to the board xxx I am a recovering heroin addict, and the bottom line is only your brother can do this, this is where it gets really frustrating for our loved ones cos they wish they could do it for us but with addiction its only the addict that can help themselves, of course you can be there for him to offer support ect, but ultimately the choice is HIS and only his, does HE want to get and stay clean, cos only he can do it for himself.
Like Jim says there is a forum on this board dedicated to family and friends, people who know what you are going through xxx
I wish you all the luck in the world
Love
Gabbi