My sister is pregnant and abusing pills and now I feel so guilty!

[GMommy2008]

My sister is 33 weeks pregnant and has been using, and abusing pain pills since before she was pregnant. She was taking 40mg oxycontin 3-4 times a day and 15mg roxicodone in between, not sure how many, maybe 4 a day, if not more. And during her whole pregnancy, her dr. has been weaning her down and now she is just on percocet. The problem though is she has been taking her entire 30 day script within 5-10 days and then going through withdrawl. And then buying street drugs to take until her next appointment. Her husband has no idea but he is very hard to talk to and she wont let anyone even has access to talk to him (she guards the phone, and takes the mail, ect.). I have been struggling with what to do since May and I have been crying over it every day. I have talked to her MANY times and BEGGED her to stop, but she wont. Now, today she had an appointment. Her baby is measuring 4 weeks too small, movement has slowed down (but still there), and she has high blood pressure and protein in her urine. Im not sure what all of this means, but I am TERRIFIED for my nephew and now If something is wrong with him, or even if he just has to go through withdrawl (which is HORRIBLE that an innocent baby would have to go through that!), I know it is all my fault. Well, not all. I know SHE did it but I DIDNT stop it, which is just as bad in my book. I really WANTED to help but every idea I had just didnt work out. But I could of tried harder. I dont know. I am just in tears worried for that baby. I have never been here before. Please help me!

[vicki595]

I agree with the others: this is a nightmare.  Stop feeling guilty and try to do something more positive.  I'm thinking this: threaten her with a call to social services and follow through; they will (I think) do a welfare check. Tell them to go in the evening when her husband is at home.  She's so close to term but there may be time to get her in the hosp. and wean her off before the baby is born.  But the absolute quickest way is to call the OB's ofc. Speak to whomever answers the phone and they'll do the rest.  I'm sure he'll appreciate it.   She's out of control but that baby needs protection.  It's child abuse.   I would personally do this if it were my family.
Good luck.  Keep us informed.   Love and prayers to you....BE STRONG !

[GA Guy]

I would personally treat this exactly as if the child was already born. What would you do if your sister had a 2 year old kid and was using illegal drugs around him? And, while doing so, he was finding and ingesting some of them? I personally would call Child Protective Services. But, that's just me.

[kolo13]

How sad. I don't know what the right thing to do is but please be aware that if you contact the doctor or CPS you won't have any control over how they handle the situation and you will have to be prepared to see your nephew in treatment foster care and your sister in jail.

[vicki595]

Perhaps the above is true...I don't know.  God, this is awful.   I was thinking that because there's a Dad there they would leave the baby with him,get her help etc...What about "ambushing" the brother in law when he gets home from work but before he enters the house and giving him the facts of what you know and letting him go from there?   She's going to deny it but I can't believe he hasn't noticed or been very concerned about the drugs his baby is taking.  Maybe he knows nothing...hmmmm..... She does get the phone,the mail etc...and he IS a government security something.      I just re-read your post: her husband does not know.  God !!!!
And you don't know the OB's name.    Man...she's good (BAD) !    Okay- ambush the brother in law in my opinion and bring a friend /relative with you.  You really are in a tight squeeze here. Wow   I'll be anxious to read what the others think about an ambush.       Praying hard now...

[GMommy2008]

Thank you so much for all of your posts. You have made me feel better about the situation. The main problem with her husband is, hmmm, hes an IDIOT! There was ONE chance I did have him on the phone. It was the begining of this pregnancy and she was going through w/d. He called me! And said "what do I do?". I freaked out in such happiness that I had this chance! I told him "Look, she is in severe w/d from taking too many pills. You NEED to take her to the ER right now and let them make sure your baby is ok, then go from there." I stressed this to him. Apparently, she had a couple pills (I believe it was muscle relaxers or something, but I could be wrong and it was pain pills, either way, BAD for baby) that took her w/d symptoms away by the time they got there. She told him she was "better" so he brought her home!!!! She called me later and told me what happened. I was stunned!!   At one point, he did tell her he wanted her script that month to monitor it. She filled it up with stomach pills and gave him that bottle. He didnt know any better and gave her X amount of stomach pills each day for that month. Then he assumed she was doing what the drs. wanted so he stopped monitoring it.  Oh yeah, AND, she has stolen money from him and when he found out, she told him her dr. called her in an extra script b/c her tooth was hurting and her ins wouldnt cover it, so she had to pay $400 for it, so she printed out a fake reciept from the computer (which he has never used a computer before so he isnt too bright with that) and he believed that too!!  So please tell me, with a man this "dumb!", how do I even get through to him if I did ambush him?? If he was normal, I would of already done something like that. Thanks for the idea though!!

[GMommy2008]

Thank you as well for making me feel better about my situation. I am trying not to blame myself, but it is hard. I feel like I made a mistake waiting this long. Thank you though!