Best Friend addicted to Oxycodone

My best friend has had a problem for almost a year. It's hard to say how bad it is because I'm not around her, but she once told me her and her boyfriend were doing 2 Oxy's each a day. I don't really know how much or serious that it. I know that it's bad, but when I ask her now she says she's not doing them. Her boyfriend has been an addict for a while. I could go on forever. Are these pills Roxy's, and Oxy's something that you CAN do just here and there? Or do you become hooked so fast that's just not possible? Were preparing and intervention, I think she will want help, but the boyfriend is the biggest problem he introduced it to her and she "loves" him! She's brainwashed! Any advice?

[gizzy32]

It is next to impossible to stay clean when another partner is using. It is a constant trigger day after day.  I think an intervention is a great idea, sometimes they can really get through to an addict, but as long as she stays with him and he is using, her chances at staying clean are slim to none. If she has been using a year then I would say she is hooked, but only my opinion. Most of us lied about how much and how often we used in active use and the guilt we carry sometimes is too much. You sound like a great friend wanting to help like this, I hope she really wants this because addiction is so tough and once it grabs ya, life changes. Does her boyfriend show any signs that he wants to quit? Let us know how it goes. Good luck to you and your friend.

P.S. Are you gonna have a councellor or interventionalist there?

[ctomlin]

Thanks so much for the advice. I'm getting ready to go meet her and her sister now! It was tough to get her away from the boyfriend. I don't know how her boyfriend feels about getting clean now. I know  he has been on and off drugs for years and years and my friend never had a problem til he came into her life. All of his friends do drugs too. I even know of his best friend injecting heroin (he's said it himself). At this point neither of them have a job, he cant drive because of a dui, my friend stopped going to school and even got rid of her cell phone! She uses his now. So I'm going to go talk to her i'll let you know how it goes. It just boggles my mind that sometimes I talk to her and she sounds like my old friend and other times she's off the wall! Who know's...I hope she opens up tho!

[gizzy32]

It's so sad what drugs do to a person. I got involved with a women a few years back that was addicted to cocaine and being with her brought me down to a place I never knew existed. When I finally accepted the blame that it was my choice to use drugs and wanted to quit more than anything, that is when I got clean. I am so sorry she is going through this and sometimes we need a wake up call to snap out of it. He sounds like bad news for sure, but she needs to make the choice to get clean. Keep us posted, just show her support and sometimes tough love. Sounds like she needs some help.

[TXGirl25]

I used to be this girl.  I was with my exboyfriend for 2 and a half years.  I occasionally did drugs with friends before I met him but as soon as we were together I moved in with him and started doing them every day.  It started with coke and then moved to lortabs, oxy's, methadone..basically whatever we could get our hands on.  Since you said neither one of them have jobs, how are they supporting themselves?  Is he selling dope to support their habit?  My ex was selling  and eventually his addiction got so out of control and so hopeless that he committed suicide.  I was in the house when it happened and I hate to say it but it was the only thing that stopped me from my down ward spiral. We had reached the point of intraveineously injecting herion. If her boyfriend is selling dope then they are in a huge amount of danger.  People kill for drugs that stong.  Its a black hole that just keeps sucking you deeper and deeper.  But there is good news!  I stopped cold turkey from herion 3 years ago and I've been clean ever since.   I am now married with a 2 year old and have never been happier.  It took a lot of support from my family for me to see beyond the fog of drugs and I am SO glad they made me stop.  She CAN do it!  Just remind her that when she is ready you will always be there for her, no matter what!  Dont' force her to do it until she is ready! Good Luck, let us know how it goes.

[ctomlin]

First of all I want to say how proud I am of you all for overcoming your addicitions, congratulations! So my friends sister was bringing my friend to lunch today to meet me (she did not know that I was going to lunch until the last minute). When she found out I was going to be there she started to get suspicious and asked her sister to stop at 7-11 to get money out. She ended up asking the clerk to use their phone (she has no cell phone of her own anymore) and called her boyfriend to hurry up and come pick her up! So her sister called me and I rushed over there! I was talking casually with her and she was making up excuses on why she didn't want to come to lunch. I told her I just wanted to talk to her alone and that I was worried about her. Right off the bat she asked if it was an intervention. I told her I have been doing research and learning alot about this addiction and that I have information for her to get help if she wanted it. She denied it. But would then contradict herself and say she slipped up this week. She started crying and shaking. Then the boyfriend shows up. He stayed in the car and didn't say a word. So I just told her I cared so much about her and her addiction is effecting me very negatively on a daily basis and she apologized but said she could quit. I guess she's just not ready. I told her I have information for her to get help and to call me whenever I am here for her. So she left with the boyfriend. My friend was in a car accident when we were in highschool and receives 300$ a month from it as well as unemployment. Her boyfriend is on unemployment also. She also receives large sums of money every couple years. She just got 15,000$ in august. So she supports their habit I guess. Should I tell her parents about this, they are oblivious to it all! My family is very good friends with hers, and her parents are very caring. SHould I tell them or give her some time and see if she comes around???????

[TXGirl25]

I would tell her parents.  My brother found my needles and told my parents.  Thats the only way they found out.  Parents want to believe that their babies are ok even when they see the signs themselves.  Just remember, you can't make people do things they dont want to do.  Free will is hard to harness.  I know you hurt for her but she is the only one that can make the decision.  Just keep telling her you love her and you are there for her. Good luck!

[ctomlin]

Thanks you for the advice. I am going to tell her parents, and I don't care if she hates me for now because down the road she will thank me. Her boyfriend just makes this situation so  much harder. I really sympathize for addicts my dad was an alcoholic for a long time. Prescription drug abuse is becoming an epidemic, I know more and more people everyday who are getting hooked and it just *****. Especially when it hits so close to home like this. It really changes people. Thanks again.

[ctomlin]

Oh and by the way, are there any physical signs that show when someone is high? Her sister seems to think that she's not high because she could go to the gym, is this possible? I've heard that oxys/roxys constrict pupils and may cause shaking but is there anything else to look for? Can someone seem completely sober even if they are high off of these drugs???

[jt808]

yes u can lead a very normal life sum times to normal i been doing hardcore prescription for over 8 yrs im 26 yrs old and if i didnt tell anyone they never knew i was high or anythng for 8 years so it can be hard to tell for me at least others give away sum sighns like look for alot of itching or scratching like the nose or wherever the drugs make u itch whn u take alot also mood swings and another good way to know is energy for lil bit thn super tired and sleeps if u really pay attention u can see em but there not real obvious unless ur really looking, if there snorting em which most people do thn look for red nose stuff like tht good luck and if i thnk of anymore ill be sure to post them.k

[TXGirl25]

I used pain killers so that going to run and going to the gym wouldn't hurt.  I could run farther, lift more weight and I had a lot more energy.  It effects people differently.  My nose would itch constantly and my pupils would constrict. Nodding off is a symptom if they take a lot.  They can just fall asleep in the middle of a task, and a dry cough can sometimes be present.