Loratab Addiction

[crawcrocker]

My son is 21 years old and has a problem with back and ankle pain from a vehicle accident almost two years ago. At least the last 2 months he has been using Loratab. Friends of his came to me to let me know about this. My problem is I don't know how addicted he is. He has been without for 8 days now and he seems to be doing fine. When he leaves and returns he does have to take a drug test all have been negative so far. Should I be letting him leave whenever he wants? Should we give him more room? We want to help him but at the same time we don't want to smother him. How do we find out if he is really addicted? He is not in control of his money we give it to him.  thanks

[DeezNuts]

I can relate to your son. I am 20 years old and addicted to Lortab. First of all, I plan on quitting because I want to. Not because my parents want me to, and to be quite honest. If they were enabling me by having me live in their house or giving me money quitting lortab would seem less appealing. I am making this decision not necessarily  because I want to. Mainly because i have to. I don't have any other choice. This drug is extremely deceiving because the Dr. gives it to us and at first it doesn't seem like a street drug. However, it is very much. You must trust your son and you must be with him with his addiction. If you ever ridicule him for his behaivor he will flea and continue his drug abuse with or without your relationship.

You must however make an intervention. You must let him know that being on this drug for recreational use is not okay and that you WILL make some serious moves if he continues on this path. Sadly, he may choose the drug. But I doubt it because you say he has spent 8 days without. A true addict of hydrocodone...taking upwards of 70mg+ each day cannot go 8 days without some serious withdrawel. Depending on the amount of time on the drug of course.

If his friends came to you it seems to me that you as a parent are doing the best job you can. The fact that his friends are concered enough about him to trust you to handle it appropriately shows a lot of character on your part. As well as the friends. In order to snap this you have to take care of it now. that is the key with opiates. Time = pain.
So be strong, and have faith in your son. But don't support him too much. That will cripple him for the future.

[VOsRose]

I read your post earlier today and wanted to give it some thought before I responded.  Firstly, let me say that as a parent, I understand the propensity to want to "over protect" our children and save them from any suffering.  Drug addiction is a very serious and very scary thing.  I hope I never have to face the fact that my child has become addicted drugs.  However, you must take some things into consideration when deciding how to proceed.  First, how old are his "friends" who are telling you about his usage?  Are they being typical, immature kids who blow things way out of proportion or do you have faith in them that what they are telling you is accurate?  Second, where is he getting the Lortab?  Is it prescribed or is he buying it on the streets?  Third, what does he have to say about it and do you have faith in him?  It sounds like either you don't believe him (hence, the drug tests when he returns home and the control of his money) or you are not letting him grow up and become an adult who takes resposibility for himself and his actions.  Many people who are in chronic pain can use pain medication as prescribed, when NEEDED, without becoming addicted to it.  The danger, however, is when that usage turns into addiction.  Find out what his real level of addiction is and work from there.  If he is not really addicted, help educate him on the dangers of playing around with narcotics before he finds himself addicted.  It is a journey into Hell, I promise you.

Being 21, though, he has to be given freedom to make his own choices.  You can't continue to shelter him forever.  Give him love, but don't sufficate him and infantize him.  Give him a safe haven, but not a jail.  Give him freedom to make mistakes with the knowledge that your love is unconditional.  He'll probably be okay.  Let us know if you find out it IS a serious problem.

Peace

[marcatj]

hi... i reread your post over here and i actually do have some questions:

-has his behavior changed?
-have you discussed this with him?

if you are sure he's been without for 8 days and he showed no withdrawal (flue-like) symptoms, i don't know.. most addicts go through w/d's.  but since his friends came to you, that cause for soncern.

as for giving him more room and space - since he's 21 years old, i'm curious why he doesn't already, or control his own money, etc.