Me again, my husband's daughter has said she is done using. She was smoking heroin. Questions, how long do you have to use to feel withdrawal and how long does it stay in your system? We want to do another drug test but I want to make sure that it should be out of her system. She lies, alot. Only 18 and ruining her life. Thank you!
Hi Grammy, The withdrawals depend on how long she's been doing the heroin. But I'm sure it will be soon! With as many foils as you found she has been using for a while. They all say their ready to quit when they get caught. Thing is though can she stop? It's a hard road she has ahead of her. Lies come with the addiction. She will next probably tell you she is off it and is all good now but she won't be. My daughter told me that and all the while she was still using. But intravenously not smoking it. If she wants to detox you would be best taking her to the emergency room and they will admit her into a detox place and set her up for rehab after she completes her detox. Thats the best way to detox instead of at home. Good job for seeing the problem and putting an end to it. I wish you all well!! Mary.
Mandm gave you good advice . If at all possible, find a medical detox for her. It's hell otherwise, and it will break your heart to see her go through that. My son fell in the shower when he was detoxing last year (we were frantically calling, trying to find a medical detox for him). I was banging on the door and calling his name, no answer. So I went in and he was on the floor of the shower. I was home alone w/ him and was so scared. I was shouting and slapping his face and was just about to get to the phone for 911 when he snapped out of it. Turns out he was so exhausted that he fell asleep in the shower and didn't even wake up when he fell. I carried that with me for a year, and finally was breaking down a lot and not handling stress well and ended up going to a therapist a couple of months ago.
I'm wishing you the best, and that your daughter will commit to recovery.
Love, Jenna
I'm wishing you the best, and that your daughter will commit to recovery.
Love, Jenna
Thank you so much for your advice. Husband thinks she just needs to go to counseling. I'm beside myself. I was the one who discovered it and I got yelled at for going thru her s***. I'm beyond upset. I think I am going to go to counseling to learn how to let go. Found out she is smoking cocaine as well. So frustrated
Grammy - you asked how long heroin stays in the system (for testing) and I intended to answer that, but got distracted. From what I've read, heroin can be detected in your system for 2-4 days after last use using a urine test. Can be detected for between 1-4 days after last use for saliva test. For very heavy users the detection time can be longer.
From what I have seen with personal experiences with my daughter & from what I have learned, most people can't quit heroin cold turkey. They may try & they may detox themselves, my daughter had many times, but she always went back . She couldn't stop using without rehab or NA meetings. When they detox, they will have bad leg cramps, bad stomach cramps. I thought my daughter had the flu 3 times one winter. My daughter was always on the honor roll in high school & in college she was on the Dean's list. She was the one I though I never had to worry about. Heroin to her & my family places that I never thought we would go. Please educate yourself on this horrible disease. All I could do to save myself, my daughter & my other children was gain knowledge. I will pray for you all.
Yes, from what I read Heroin can be detected 2-4 days after last use with a urine test. Keep a lot of tests handy because from what I've seen with my 20 y.o. daughter (who also was honor roll and got an academic scholarship to college), getting off is hard; staying sober is harder.
From my experience, "at home" detox doesn't work long term. It worked for a while for us but then she started using again. When we first learned of her use, she went to an addiction psychiatrist who prescribed Suboxone and therapy. The game plan was for her to be on Suboxone for 1 yr to 18 months and then she would be weaned off of it and wouuld be opiate-free. She started Suboxone, went back to college but saw the psychiatrist regularly. (She refused to go to therapy.) She finished 2 more semesters and had a successful summer job, so I guess it "worked" for a minute. I'm not sure what happened but she stopped using this opiate substitute, went back to heroin and punched out of college.
She also did a 7-day inpatient detox close to home that didn't work. I think she stayed sober for a grand total of 13 days. It was easy for her to relapse. Her dealers and connections were right here (just a phone call away). She was comfortable at home so she saw no consequences of her actions/decisions. For my husband and me, it was very stressful having her home. We played Sobriety Police: we drove her every where she needed to go, except when she was at class either my hubby or I were with her 24/7, we took away her cell phone, we locked up everything valuable that she hadn't stolen already, etc. We didn't sleep much. In fact, one of us slept in the living room every night out of fear that she'd sneak out. and we were always anxious. (The bad news is despite everything we did she still found a way to use! Addicts are very clever)
If your daughter is ready and willing to quit, try to find a 30 day inpatient program. If your insurance won't cover 30 days (and many won't for a first visit to rehab) or you cannot afford it, find the longest one possible. This way your daugther can detox and begin the rehab process in a structured and safe environment, with professionals available 24/7. Everyone's withdrawal is different; in part due to their length of use, method of getting high, body type and amount. But my daughter became sweaty, hot and restless after a couple of hours away from Mr Heroin. About a day after her last use, she had horrible leg cramps, insomnia, diarrhea & stomach pains. The diarrhea and stomach problems lasted for weeks. She also became depressed, anxious and very irritable. The facility was able to prescribe OTC meds and provide alternatives (e.g., yoga, dietary advice) to make her more comfortable so she didn't feel the urge to use just to feel better. For me and my husband (she's an only child), we got an opportunity to heal and focus on us.
I've been where you are and I'm praying for you, your husband and your daughter.
From my experience, "at home" detox doesn't work long term. It worked for a while for us but then she started using again. When we first learned of her use, she went to an addiction psychiatrist who prescribed Suboxone and therapy. The game plan was for her to be on Suboxone for 1 yr to 18 months and then she would be weaned off of it and wouuld be opiate-free. She started Suboxone, went back to college but saw the psychiatrist regularly. (She refused to go to therapy.) She finished 2 more semesters and had a successful summer job, so I guess it "worked" for a minute. I'm not sure what happened but she stopped using this opiate substitute, went back to heroin and punched out of college.
She also did a 7-day inpatient detox close to home that didn't work. I think she stayed sober for a grand total of 13 days. It was easy for her to relapse. Her dealers and connections were right here (just a phone call away). She was comfortable at home so she saw no consequences of her actions/decisions. For my husband and me, it was very stressful having her home. We played Sobriety Police: we drove her every where she needed to go, except when she was at class either my hubby or I were with her 24/7, we took away her cell phone, we locked up everything valuable that she hadn't stolen already, etc. We didn't sleep much. In fact, one of us slept in the living room every night out of fear that she'd sneak out. and we were always anxious. (The bad news is despite everything we did she still found a way to use! Addicts are very clever)
If your daughter is ready and willing to quit, try to find a 30 day inpatient program. If your insurance won't cover 30 days (and many won't for a first visit to rehab) or you cannot afford it, find the longest one possible. This way your daugther can detox and begin the rehab process in a structured and safe environment, with professionals available 24/7. Everyone's withdrawal is different; in part due to their length of use, method of getting high, body type and amount. But my daughter became sweaty, hot and restless after a couple of hours away from Mr Heroin. About a day after her last use, she had horrible leg cramps, insomnia, diarrhea & stomach pains. The diarrhea and stomach problems lasted for weeks. She also became depressed, anxious and very irritable. The facility was able to prescribe OTC meds and provide alternatives (e.g., yoga, dietary advice) to make her more comfortable so she didn't feel the urge to use just to feel better. For me and my husband (she's an only child), we got an opportunity to heal and focus on us.
I've been where you are and I'm praying for you, your husband and your daughter.
Thank you so much for the responses. We took away her car and cell phone. She decided the heroin boyfriend was more important and moved out to live with him and his parents. My husband is just devastated. I'm hoping she will turn things around. We have let her know that she is welcome home as long as she no longer sees the boyfriend and as long as she stays clean. She too has a full ride to college. She says she's still going in the Fall. We shall see.
Thank you for the information!
Thank you for the information!
Hi Grammy, That's sad! I feel for you and your husband. I know how you guys feel. The boyfriends mother is an enabler if she lets them live there while doing drugs. Either that or she doesn't know her sons doing drugs either. I'd have to bet she doesn't know. Their such good liars. Tell your husband not to blame himself as he didn't caused her to do drugs anymore than you did. It's a generation thing. It's terrible! I'm so frightened for teenagers nowadays with these heavy drugs being so easy to get. God help them! You take care Grammy all you can hope for is that she sees sense soon. If he isn't going to the same college she won't go to college either.can her mother do anything to get her to listen? Best of luck. Mary.
Thank you! We did tell the boyfriends parents, in hope they would kick them both out. Has never happened. And no, her mother is useless. Left 2 days after we found out to go work in a different state 1200 miles away. She's a very selfish person. And the boyfriend won't be going to college as he never even graduated from high school. And, unfortunately, the college she is supposed to go to is here in town. But we are no longer helping with anything unless she gets help.
Thank you very much!
Thank you very much!
Hi, I've been off the computer for a few days. I'm sorry to hear she's moved out of the house and into a bad situation. I'm praying that she realizes everything she is giving up, and embraces the wonderful future she could have under your loving influence.
Thank you! My husband is just devastated.
