How hard is it to stop?

[save_love]

I have a boyfriend who has been addicted to norcos for three years now. I've never been addicted to any type of drug in my life, so its hard for me to understand why it is so hard for him to stop. He's said many times that he is going stop but I keep catching him doing it. He's getting them off the streets. I don't know really what they are or how they make you feel or how serious they are? Can someone clarify?

[aTtHeEnD]

Oh, and the some of the best advise you will ever receive in your life will come from these posts. I had to admit to myself I had the problem. I would not matter any other way at all! Here I am on day 3 of taking 18 hydro's daily 10/500 (those are strong) I feel crappy, but better then yesterday. I want it - I WILL PRAY he figures out how bad it is, it WILL KILL! Read the posts, and post yourself. Without these folks here I'm popping away. They have saved my life as far as I am concerned.

[cathy5841]

i am so sorry, but the above poster are right..he has to want it and he has to work out his own recovery.  you need to find out how many he is taking per day and see if he really is cutting back on his intake.  if you continue in this relationship and he continues on the pills, it will become a HUGE problem..all addicts come to the point where they lie about everything...most come to the point they steal from you and their lives spiral out of control...you really need to go to some narc-anon sessions and understand addiction....also if he is serious about quitting he should attend some na sessions....it is easy to say you are gonna quit...quitting is another story...get educated and save yourself years of hurt...

[rue10]

There was a poster on here, I can't remember her name. (Someone help me out please) She was engaged to be married to her addicted boyfriend in a few weeks.  He went to rehab and she was torn up about it.  He was stealing money, lying, etc.  She wanted to take care of herself and him as well.  She supported him through rehab, went to the family sessions but could not get over the hurt of his deception.She called off the wedding.  I say all of this, because you say it bothers you now because you care for him more.  Well down the road you could be in the exact same position as this other person.  If he cannot even admit he has a problem, he is far from wanting to take care of it.  You have to decide if you're ready to take on the baggage that comes along with loving someone addicted who at the moment has no desire to stop.  

I agree with Ronnie.  Read up on opiate addiction, educate yourself as to what to expect for the addict and you.  Most importantly take care of yourself and your emotional well-being.  Keep posting.

If I can find the thread of the other poster I'll tell you where it is so you can read it.  It might give you some insight.

All the best.

[bucksfan]

It can be a good step if he regulates but very few have self control to do so. He will not quit until he is fed up with them. I have quit several times in 4 years but each time the only way it worked was to flush whatever I had left and feel miserable for a few days. My fault was I Thought well now that my system is clean I can just take them for fun. I dont have any other vice. Some may enjoy a nice cocktail after work, I enjoyed a pill. This time me and my fiance are doing things together and being active like with church, golfing boating things that get me out of the house b/c that was the only place I truly like to eat them.

[save_love]

Thanks for the advice maria. We talked about it again last night and he said he's "cutting down gradually". Good step ?

[merrymaria]

i hear ya  yes you make sense...the problem can only esculate...because your tolerance builds up therefore he will need to take more and more just to feel normal and he will need to take more for a high from the drugs.  it s a losing battle all around.  let him read some stories here and how people end up rock bottom then they are rescued i guess and start living a clean life with much success.  it only gets worse...i don t mean to scare you but you have to nip it in the bud now....you re too young to be worrying about pills...maria

[save_love]

Also, we have only been together for less than a year. At the beginning, it didn't bother me, because I didn't see myself spending the rest of my life with him. Now it does bother me, does this make sense?

[save_love]

he has not admitted to being addicted but it is clear that he is. i feel helpless as well. i would love to be there for him to help him get over this but he hasnt even taken the first step of admitting it. i will NOT try it, just to see how it makes me feel. he does not take them for medical reasons thanks for all the feedback guys. also, i have a lot going for me, with college and everything with my future. we're not living together yet but should this be something to worry about if we ever decide to? like how serious of a problem will it actually be to live with someone addicted to these drugs?

[road2recovery]

Ronnie, said it well...I am very sorry u are going through this..Like ronnie, my husband also thought " well just stop"....It is not that easy...He really has to want it...You said he has been addicted for 3 yrs, have you been with him this long??  Also does he have any medical reason to have started taking these??  
I am a mother , wife, sister, and a good person...I never thought i would get addicted to pills...I dont' think anyone does...It is the devil...PLEASE don't ever try to find out how they make you feel.....
Do you know about how many he takes a day??  
Everyone will give you great advice for YOU...But until he really wants to stop before losing everything and possibly his life there is nothing u can do...We as addicts hurt the ones who love us, and that hurts just to type that...I wish you the best, and try to get him to come here, maybe he is sick of being sick...
god bless
r2r

[Ronnie152]

welcome to the form, This is very serious, he is a addict. I know it ia hard for you to understand, my husband dont understand eather he dont even smoke. He says he is going to stop but has he ever told you that he is additive to the drugs? Thats the first thing he has to do and then he is only going to stop when he is ready and when he wants to. I am sorry to tell you there is not going to be anything you can say or do to make him quit. The best thing you can do is read up on it and have a sit down with him and let him know how you feel.I wish you luck on your talk any questions keep posting.