Parent of a heroin addict

[CASEY]

My 19 year old has been using heroin for a year. Right now, he denies it but then he will ask for clonodine. Until he admits he has a problem, what should we do? Wait around until he crashes? He suffers from severe depression and is on Wellbutrin. He attributes all of his problems to depression and is very angry if I suggest it is the drugs. I am trying to go on with my life but it is hard when he is falling apart at 3:00 am, crying and lamenting about having no hope. I am going to Alanon. I have told him we will get help for him when he is ready but his meltdowns are killing our family. How direct should I be about the evidence he sometimes leaves around plus the raging? I am so worn out. Help!

[Savas]

I'm so sorry, that must be hell. But nowadays, the detox is NOT the easiest part. Due to changes in views on addiction, there are no easy options for detox anymore.
I have a thread called
"Methadone detox: What works, what doesn't

in this forum. It applies, as heroin and methadone are both opiates, and the long term effects for heroin withdrawal, while may be shorter in terms of a few days here and a few months there are there.
Information is crucial to understanding and beating what your offspring is going through for BOTH of you. There's a lot of misinformation out there, and it will only hurt you in the long run.

Not to say you aren't totally right! The after care is incredibly important and very difficult. It takes a core shift in personality, world view and intense self reflection to achieve the stability and peace of mind to stay away from drugs.

[NewLeaf]

I agree a new thread would be good. Another mom of an addict.

[Yoda99]

Hi, my name is Yoda and I've been here for a while now.  I can't believe I just read though all of these posts to find out this thread was started in 2000.  The people that were posting at that time are probably not posting anymore.  You do have a valid point, and I think you should start a new thread.  These old ones that keep popping up are throwing a lot of people off.
Good luck,
Yoda

[oneof4]

I am the mother of a looooooooooooooong term addict. and i agree the detox is the easy bit its the rehabilitation thats the hard thing as heroin gets such a grip its hard to break and the longer your on it the harder it is.

[McGill]

Some people are just asses.  Don't be an idiot

[John07211996]

I am a recovering addict who has been able to stay clean since 1996 through living the program of Narcotics Annonymous.  My drug of choice was heroin.  During my period of time in active addiction I used despite virtually all of the consequences.  My family and friends went through hell.  Most of them thought drugs were going to kill me.  They would have too except for virtue of me finding recovery.

Getting off dope is only part of the problem.  Sure being dope sick is no picnic whatsoever.  Between the throwing up, chills and body aches it really sucks.  However, I got off of dope quite a number of times but ended up going back to it.  The problem is staying clean more so than getting clean.  That is why it is so imperative that I continue to work a program of recovery.  

I am of the firm belief that drug addiction is a disease.  The first component of this disease is physical (the inability to stop using drugs once we start).  The second part is mental - the overpowering compulsion to continue to use even though we know it is killing us.  The third is spiritual - total self-centeredness.  

I hope that all addicts who desire to get clean and stay clean find their way.  This is a horrible disease.  It killed all of my friends and will kill me if I went back out again.  I saw the looks in my friends parents eyes at their funerals.