Aa
Heroin Addiction
My daughter is addicted to heroin and is still in denial, which only makes things worse. But, does anyone know what I can do to help her with her denial and if not, when she does come out of denial, what does anyone know about the withdrawals of that? I'm hearing that it is not much different than what we are going through as far as withdrawals from opiates.....Any suggestions? Anyone have any knowledge regarding this? I'm scared to death for her and don't know what to do.
Thanks so much for your concern, your life experiences and your empathy for me. I am really sorry about your relapse....I know that must really be hard.....But you are going to make it through this again because you no longer want to be a slave to a drug either. As far as my daughter, one of the most beautiful girls you can imagine and graduated high school with honors (actually all the way through school she was in honors). She should be in college getting ready to start a life for herself and all I see if her "falling".....I don't want to lose her....I worry about her more than myself!!! Again, Thanks so much for your comments and prayers for us as I will keep you in my prayers also!
I read your posts yesterday and my heart goes out to you. I cannot imagine the pain of watching your child go through drug abuse and all that goes with it. I, myself, have a 15 year old daughter. I am struggling with a Lortab addiction. She has seen me go through it over and over. She is the most loving and supportive thing. However, my addiction is the "White Elephant" we don't really talk about. I have been addicted since she was five, and she's a super bright little girl (she just finished 9th grade, honors classes, with a 3.987 gpa - a little bragging.) My point is, she's not stupid. Before my last withdrawal, which I did under medical supervision, inpatient, I was taking 70 to 80 Lortab 10/500 a day. My day started with 8 pills at once, then 8 pills every 1 1/2 to 2 hours all day. My days always start at 5:00 a.m. and end around midnight, so you can do that math. The withdrawal from that was a living hell. I posted yesterday - Repeart Lortab Withdrawal. I decided, for some reason, that it would be a good idea, about a month ago, to take a couple of Lortab. I wanted to see if I could still get a "buzz' from them. Oh, I found I sure could and I loved it. Two led to two more, and here I am, a month later, back up to 12 a day. I kept it there (with the occasional 15 or 18 days) and am facing withdrawal yet again. It sounds like you're through the worse part of the withdrawal. I can promise it gets better. I'm so furious with myself for having to go through this yet again. I pray it's nothing like the last time. I'm hoping, beyond hope, that given the short (one month) amount of time and the much lesser dosage, it will be much, much milder. Howerver, I also know that each time you withdraw it gets harder. I will keep you, and your precious daughter in my prayers.
My daughter is 20 years old, been injecting heroin for at least 3 years (that I know of) (but don't really know how much she has been using in a day), her boyfriend is 21 and both of them and ALL of their friends are on heroin. I do know that my daughter is shooting the dope, as I said in one of my previous posts, I see the track marks and have found the paraphania. My daughter and I used to be very close, as ONEOFUS said.....you and your daughter would score for one another.....That's how we used to be. But, I have now decided to get my life back and I am on day 7 on being clean from hydrocodone. I really appreciate everyone's comments, advice, and life experiences. And, ONEOFUS you are right....it is my frame of mind, but I am afraid of her getting a disease from shooting up or even worse death from an overdose, or even a drug deal gone bad. I am addict too and just hate watching her throw her life away! I realize there is nothing I can do to make her stop using and that has to be something she wants from within. I guess I am at this point just looking to hear people's stories and see what others think may help! I have already told my daughter that whenever she is ready that I will do everything in my power to help her! Are you all telling me that her withdrawals will be worse than my withdrawals from 10/650 10-12 a day for 5 years because she is shooting it? I have been trying the tough love thing and have told her to leave my house because I was not going to enable her to kill herself. She then came back a few weeks later and apologized for giving me so much trouble and said she would stop. Well, we know that didn't happen and recently I have told her to leave again, but now she is with dad at his home, and he says she is still using. She has had MANY friend die this way including one of her best friends that was like a brother to her. Now, if we mention that to her she tears up, but still doesn't seem to want to quit...I guess scared of going through withdrawals......Anyway, I really want to thank you ALL for your comments! That let's me know people are out there willing to help people like my daughter and I. God Bless You All!
In 1970 in Vietnam there were so many service men addicted to Heroin President Nixon had to make new law.........
1970, Congress passed the Controlled Substance Act ...
Nixon also drug tested service men and before they could return to the states from Vietnam they must pass an opiates drug test..............or they could not return home..........that is how powerful Heroin addiction is......
Many here are making suggestions and trying to give good advice but without knowing her age, how long of use and how she used and how much she used good advice can also be bad advice.......
If someone is a long time Heroin user by injection (years) Cold Turkey can be deadly.......
There is a huge difference between RX addicts (even Oxycotin) and hard core Heroin addiction.....
This is just a suggestion I know you all are trying to help...........please becareful.........
1970, Congress passed the Controlled Substance Act ...
Nixon also drug tested service men and before they could return to the states from Vietnam they must pass an opiates drug test..............or they could not return home..........that is how powerful Heroin addiction is......
Many here are making suggestions and trying to give good advice but without knowing her age, how long of use and how she used and how much she used good advice can also be bad advice.......
If someone is a long time Heroin user by injection (years) Cold Turkey can be deadly.......
There is a huge difference between RX addicts (even Oxycotin) and hard core Heroin addiction.....
This is just a suggestion I know you all are trying to help...........please becareful.........
I can only imagine how a parent feels in this situation........the helplessness must be terrible....
Please feel free to ask me any questions anything I will answer your questions truthfully.........
i asked you her age because it would matter with your parental rights over your child.............
Example if I were a parent of a minor who was addicted to Heroin I would go to court and have her commited for 30 or 60 days........for observation.........
You have some tough choices to make but remember this Heroin addiction is the most powerful addiction known to man.............
Please feel free to ask me any questions anything I will answer your questions truthfully.........
i asked you her age because it would matter with your parental rights over your child.............
Example if I were a parent of a minor who was addicted to Heroin I would go to court and have her commited for 30 or 60 days........for observation.........
You have some tough choices to make but remember this Heroin addiction is the most powerful addiction known to man.............
You seem to be chasing your tail. As I reread your posts I get no clear focus on what your are facing. Your first issue is presented as a problem of “denial.” But upon closer scrutiny you abandon that (because you realize she isn’t denying her addiction to herself, but to you), and decide it is actually a communication problem between her and you. From there, you express concern over the withdrawals she may be facing (you mention more than once you wish you could do it for her), but that concern is shared with whether she can do it alone or will need supervision.
In your last post you speak of consequences worse than withdrawals, and say “dead is what scares me,” but you don’t say why or how that takes form (Dirty needle/HIV, overdose, drug deal gone bad/gunshot wound, etc.), or if it DOES take form.
So we’ve run the gamut from denial to death, and you are still asking for “suggestions.” I’m sorry, but I can’t get a fix on what you want “suggestions” FOR. Harsh as it sounds, my sense of the matter is that the “problem(s)" exist more with you than with your daughter. By that I mean, your own frame of mind is the problem, not her addiction. I don’t get the feeling that anything can be said here that would help or that you would use.
I was in exactly the same situation you are about five years ago. My own 25 year-old daughter was addicted, and so was I. But she and I had/have a very close relationship. For a time I would help her by scoring for her when she couldn’t get anything for herself. I couldn’t bear to see her get sick. And she did the same for me. But she finally made up her mind to get free. And she did. About three years ago she took her last opiate, and has been clean ever since. She goes to AA. I am still strung. But I’m on a detox methadone program and doing well. She prays for me everyday. And she worries about me, but stands by me.
My point? The only thing you can do for your daughter is give her your love and support. Nobody has to tell you what she is going through. If anybody knows, you do. Stand by her and tell her you will help her in any way you can. Nothing can be done without trust.
The rest will take care of itself.
Rider
In your last post you speak of consequences worse than withdrawals, and say “dead is what scares me,” but you don’t say why or how that takes form (Dirty needle/HIV, overdose, drug deal gone bad/gunshot wound, etc.), or if it DOES take form.
So we’ve run the gamut from denial to death, and you are still asking for “suggestions.” I’m sorry, but I can’t get a fix on what you want “suggestions” FOR. Harsh as it sounds, my sense of the matter is that the “problem(s)" exist more with you than with your daughter. By that I mean, your own frame of mind is the problem, not her addiction. I don’t get the feeling that anything can be said here that would help or that you would use.
I was in exactly the same situation you are about five years ago. My own 25 year-old daughter was addicted, and so was I. But she and I had/have a very close relationship. For a time I would help her by scoring for her when she couldn’t get anything for herself. I couldn’t bear to see her get sick. And she did the same for me. But she finally made up her mind to get free. And she did. About three years ago she took her last opiate, and has been clean ever since. She goes to AA. I am still strung. But I’m on a detox methadone program and doing well. She prays for me everyday. And she worries about me, but stands by me.
My point? The only thing you can do for your daughter is give her your love and support. Nobody has to tell you what she is going through. If anybody knows, you do. Stand by her and tell her you will help her in any way you can. Nothing can be done without trust.
The rest will take care of itself.
Rider
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Addiction: Substance Abuse Community
Is treating glaucoma with marijuana all hype, or can hemp actually help?
If you think marijuana has no ill effects on your health, this article from Missouri Medicine may make you think again.
Julia Aharonov, DO, reveals the quickest way to beat drug withdrawal.
Tricks to help you quit for good.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
