need help with my mother

My family has very addictive personalities and my mother has chronic back pain and was prescribed very strong narcotics and has been on them for a number of years.  She has become addicted and now is completely hooked.  I have talked with her before and have begged her to stop using them and especially to stop drinking while using and she will usually respond for a short time and then return to these horrible poisons.  I recently have talked to her one last time after a very concerning conversation with her and my father.  I am currently at school in Maine while she is in another state; I am scared need to know what I should do to get through to her.  is there anything that may help her get off this **** the last talk I think got through to her but I still need to know what can be done.  I thank you in advance and hope that you will respond if you have ANY useful information for me.  I just want my Mom back!!!

[Jacqui805]

I just have a few questions for you, then I'll try to help if I can....Why are you certain that your mother has an addiction to the medication?  Is she obtaining the medication through a doctor legally....and Is she taking the medication as she is directed?

[dominosarah]

Is she doing alot of drinking also??

[ochooked]

I see from your tags that she is on Fentanyl and other Opiates.  Do you think she is doctor shopping? (using more than one doctor?).  Do you have any idea of how much she is using and how long?   Many, if not most, of us on this site started out journey down the road started by legit pain but then at some point we realized we were hooked by this stuff.  You mom probably needs an intervention - family member to confront her and not only share with her how her addiction is affecting them, but offering her a way out - pointing a way to go, either a doctor, a taper plan, treatment in a facility, or some method of getting off the drugs.  Things like Fentanyl are extremely hard to withdraw from if she has been on it for a few months.  More than likely she will need help.  Just telling her to quit will do nothing and only drive her away.  She knows she cannot just quit so she will just push you all away.  You need to come up with a plan before you talk to her.  I advise you to go for it - -you are probably saving your mom's life.  All the best.

[snowflake620]

your mother is probably feeling a little angry right now that you have confronted her and is probably not going to be very responsive to your pleas for her to stop,but don't give up like the others said keep on,what does your father think does he know that she is having a problem with drugs and alcohol,try making him aware also.good luck to you and keep posting to let us know how things are going
                                 snowflake