Son's outcome

[MOMSTHEWORD]

Hello,  I have been looking at this forum for about a year now.  This is the first time i've written anything.  I just want everyone to hear my story about my son and his drug addiction.  He was abusing percs and oxys two and half years ago.  This was the last time he was using but it was a rollercoaster up until that point.  He had been to two different rebabs.  He started abusing drugs at 16.  He is now 23.  When I found out again he was abusing I kicked him out of the house.  I had had it and was done!!  He came to us and asked if we would help him find a doctor that prescribed suboxone.  I had never heard of it so we researched it while he was going through withdrawls and found a wonderful doctor 5 miles from our home.  My husband went with him on the first visit and a few after that.  Well, he has had a wonderful outcome so far.  I just want to give people hope.  He has been on the suboxone for 2 1/2 years now as a maintenance drug.  He takes 4mg a day.  Two in the morning and two in the afternoon.  Let me tell you I now have the most wonderful son anyone could ask for.  I keep asking him when he is going to wean himself off the suboxone but he has no interest in doing that.  His doctor told him he has many that take it for maintence just like you'd take other drugs for other diseases.  I am still worried about it, but he is striving now.  He is in a union and makes great money.  He goes to school 3 nights a week after working all day.  He met a wonderful girl a year ago and they get along great.  He is so happy.  Believe it or not he still drinks NOW AND THEN!!  He will go out with his gf and have a few beers here and there and thats it.  He has never had an alcohol problem and doesn't now.  I'm just baffled about the whole situation because no one else ever seems to have this outcome with the suboxone.  His life is wonderful and he has been "clean" for two and a half years!!  Does this make sense to anyone?

[MOMSTHEWORD]

Thank you so much and I want to wish you luck on your sobriety.  I have never had to go through it but from what i've read and seen it's the hardest thing in the world to do.  I'm having a hard time quitting smoking so I can't even imagine!!  Like you said to each his own.  Do what you have to do to stay clean.  My prayers are with you!!

[refusingbondage]

Congratulations to your son for all that clean time and adjusting to life without oxy.  Many people have had positive outcomes with suboxone.  In fact, I think most people feel the exact same way as you (your son) when on it.  It does in fact restore some normalcy to life (no doctor shopping, no buying off the street).  The problem for many is what happens when you try to quit suboxone - it can be an extremely difficult drug to detox off of and many people have wicked, long lasting withdrawal..  Its all about knowing as much as you can (the good, the bad and the ugly and making an informed choice)..  I took it to avoid withdrawal and was told it would not be hard to quit.  I spent 2 1/2 years on it also and pretty much loved it most of the time.  But I was severely addicted to it and by the end it was all about the suboxone and it controlled me.  I also felt very 'thin' on it like I was wasting away on the inside (Fatigue, etc)..   Quitting suboxone was the single hardest thing Ive ever had to experience in my 29 years.  That being said, it really opened my eyes up to not wanting to use ever again!  Many doctors do condone staying on a long time, my doc even said he has people on a low dose forever.. in my opinion -- to each his own.  If that is what works for someone - that is great.   I think the negative things you hear about suboxone are from people who have tried to quit and found the withdrawal extremely hard... not what suboxone does for you while your using it.  You make perfect sense and I am truly happy your son got his life back together.  Whatever works for him is exactly what he must do.  Kudos to you and him and congrats again on that clean time!  Best of luck.