My cousin needs HELP

[sassy01cassy]

Hi, I am writing because my family needs advice. My cousin who is 20 yrs has been living on the streets (staying in drug houses, friends, wherever) because he chose not to live by my aunts rules. Well from living on the streets he became addicted to opiates (oxycotin, oxycodone, viocidin, everything!!!) Well just recently he had an accident at work (tree company) where he cut off four of his fingers with a log splitter(by accident). Well he was hospitalized for 2 wks, and had to amputate 3 of the four fingers off. He didnt really have any withdrawals because he was so doped up on pain medicine to help with his hand. Well, he is now realized and it has been nothing but a complete nightmare. Our family pulled together to take care of him, mainly his fingers till he got better. Well he decided to run the streets with his druggie girlfriend. He has taken up to 75 pills within 2 days with his girlfriend. And he REFUSES to get help, or let anyone help him. He thinks he doesnt have a problem. We dont want to see this happen to him. At this point, he is having withdrawals, because he has taken all his medication, before it can be refilled again, and cant get any pills off the street...he has had seizures/acting skitsofrantic, like people are going to hurt him, or he feels that he may hurt someone else/and just recently started counting backwards from 40. We don't know what to think of the counting backwards thing, he was very upset about it and says he cant control it, he doesnt know why he is doing it. Right now we are workign with doctors to sign a petition to get him help. ANY ADVICE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED...My family feels helpless, but don't want to see him dead.

[sweetpea1313]

I am so sorry ur family is going thro this The countin thing may be the only wya that he feels in control of anything or that as long as he can count he isnt losing his mind My ex was an addict and as hard as it is to say and hear Unless he wants the help there is nothing you can do for him Do not enable him You may be able to get him in under a psych consult for at least 72 hours Call the crisis center in your area and see what services they offer Keep strong when people have poeple who care it helps!!

[1234betterlife]

it sounds like he needs to be hospitalized for treatment. this will not get better. i believe you said he does not want help so that will be an issue. he may go because he is frightened but if he has no desire to quit he will not. if he feels he is of harm to himself or others it is appropriate to admit him. whether he likes it or not. but the outcome in the end may not be what the family is seeking.

[sassy01cassy]

Thanks for such a quick response. It is nice to hear people that understand. I didnt even think about the counting thing as feeling a sense of control, very good point! Makes sense! See, no one in our family has had problems such as opiate addictions so I am doing everything in my power to become knowledgeable to help him! he needs it and i pray to god he gives in to it.

[broknbck]

you can't make him quit. it has to be up to him. but the more withdrawl he has to experience and difficulty getting his drugs will help him make that decision. the withdrawl is horrible and sooner or later he'll get sick of going through it all the time. try not to enable him to continue his lifestyle. tough love.

[sassy01cassy]

I know we can't make him quit, he has to want it. It has been very hard for him dealing with his fingers getting cut off and the cravings for more. I think the accident has made the addiction 10000x worse!

I agree that the withdrawals will hopefully make him make his decision to get better, thanks! Every lil bit of advice helps and talking with others.

[1234betterlife]

withdrawals have never stopped the true addiction. every addict knows when they pick up a pill they will eventually have to withdraw, but the desire outweighs the risk. the addict has to have another reason to quit, generally a life worth living, a life without worry about where that fix is and most importantly figuring out why they feel the need to substitute real life for the chemical life. i sincerely hope your family gets assistance. the entire family is affected by this disease. stay strong and educate yourself. keep posting. we will be here to help.

[broknbck]

is drug addiction a disease? i thought diseases were something you contracted, or something that attacks your body?

[sassy01cassy]

your right, he knows when he is taking them that he is going to have the w/d's but at the time, it doesnt matter!

Well he is back in the hospital because he has an infection in his finger. Is girlfriend has been with him and they have had people bring them pills up there to take. The dr's found this out and shook the room down, but it was too late they had already taken them all. He refuses to be at the hospital without his girlfriend (which is more than half of his problem, when he wants help he is concerned with where she is goign to go). Tomorrow the psychologists are goign to evaluate him if he agrees, if not..they told my aunt that she can come up there to sign the petition to have him admitted. Hopefully something positive comes of it.

[sassy01cassy]

I see what was meant by our family being affected by the disease. I take it as: it has affected everyone mentally, physically, and emotionally as a disease would. It is very overwhelming and at times feels like a hopeless situation...but I REFUSE to give up on him.

[1234betterlife]

is addiction a disease? yes, it is. it does attack the body, it attacks the brain. the chemical structure, the ability to reason...etc.

[1eagle]

Congrats on the REFUSE...thing. Read through the archives of this forum and educate yoyrself quickly - one thing that this disease does go down to is applied knowledge...I am so sorry that you have to do this. But God bless you