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boyfriend started heroin again after 8 clean years
My boyfriend started taking heroin again after being clean for 8 years. He confessed to me tonight that he started using again about a year ago. Tonight he is in withdrawal and feeling sick and is a general mess and tomorrow he plans on going on Suboxone. I am a complete an outsider to all this and I was wondering a few things. 1. Is it possible that he will not go back to using? He's convinced me this is the last time and he has a therapist, but I have serious doubts. 2. In the meantime, how can I tell if he starts using again? I've found this message board very helpful, since I don't know anything about symptoms and after reading a few posts, I can see the signs of his use in the past year.
Thanks for any words of help or encouragement ahead of time.
Thanks for any words of help or encouragement ahead of time.
Best Answer
No problem outsider. There are lots of resources available, it just depends on the needs you have and how you want to go about using them. You may just want to start by having him read this website and then go from there. Let us know how we can help. The web is a great resource for other groups too. NA is the most well known and you can find loads of meetings in your area by looking them up. Narcotics Anonamous.
Thanks so much for your comments. It really helps to hear from someone who's experienced it. I was up all night reading this board. I don't think he wants to join a support group. I wish he did. But I am hoping to maybe find one and suggest it. Is there a good resource to find local programs? I know he needs to want to do this on his own and so far even though he's kept this a secret from me, he has a plan devised with the suboxone and therapist. Again, thanks so much for your response.
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You asked two questions. 1. Yes, it is possible that any addict will relapse and go back to using. Addiction is a progressive disease and is not curable, but it can be kept in remission with support and through working a good program. 2. How can you tell if he is using? Well, this one can be tough. Us addicts are experts at deception - that is part of the disease. With opiates, some ways of telling are constricted pupils - they are usually very small, even in the dark. For heroin use, if the user is injecting, of course there are always needle marks, but those can be hid. Be a part of your partners program and give him support - that is one of the best things you can offer. I am lucky, mine has been with me every step of the way. Keep posting and let us know how you are doing.