My Aunt is Addicted to Oxy Contin

[wantingtohelp]

My aunt is addicted to oxy contin. (she also takes Xanax that I know of, I don't know what else.) I am three hours away at school, and every day my mom calls to tell me how much worse things are getting. She's been on it at least a year now (for awhile a doctor was prescribing them- she has no medical conditions, she's getting them off the street now.) She lost her job and her mom is paying her bills, but even still she stole money from my grandma several times to buy it. Her husband is the protagonist, he's been snorting prescription pills for years so he is no help. Now, her mom and grandma are mad at her and won't call. I think that's even worse- she needs us now, doesn't she? But she won't speak to anyone; even when she does she's so out of it she forgets she's even on the phone or what she's talking about. I was letting the rest of the family handle it because I'm so far away, but now that they're mad at her and she won't speak to them, I feel it's time that I did something. Before it's seemed like she sorta trusts me because I have not done anything to offend her or talked behind her back. My aunt is a wonderful, beautiful person who used to be happy-go-lucky and optimistic. Now she is a text book case drug addict. I know that no one can force her to get help until she WANTS help but is there ANYTHING I can do? ANYTHING? I'm at wits end, I feel so powerless three hours away. I've read story after story online this morning about people dying from oxy conton. What can I do to help ensure that won't happen to my aunt?

[Esmith28]

YOur a very sweet neice to want to help your Aunt, the thing is if she doesnt want help there is nothing you can do, you can call her and offer her this website to read up on and to talk to others who are in the same boatand that really could jar her denial...and if she doesnt want help she will contiue on this path until she is ready to get help, or she will end up  in jail or as sad as it is dead...this disease goes three roads...down further into a living hell or jail...down the road to recover or death...pray for her, offer her this website and tell her if she is ready to get help you willbe there for rher..but other than that..all you can do is pray

[suzieneedshelp]

WEll u have heard of "enabling"?  Many need to hit rock bottom to realize they need help and then to get it for themselves cuz as they said above it has to be HER that wants and seeks help/.  So...your family paying her bills and anything that keeps her from suffereing the consequences of her addictive behavior actauly "enables" or helps her to be a drug addict.  So.. wut u can do now.. no matter how harsh it seems... is to talk to your family and explain this to thme.  they are doing her no favors enabling her!  They are helping her addiction! It is most hard to watch your loved one go towards the gutter  but there may be no other way to "help" her to get the help she so desparately needs!  You and yur family can go to al-anon or the narcotics anonymous equivalent which are groups for family members of drug addicts/alcoholics.
Peace to your dear heart!
Suzie

[WifeofAddict]

Hey There,
How's the headache?  I have one right now as well, although i think it might be from all the cleaning fumes i just ingested.   I too suffer from headaches, and the occasional migraine.  I have been seeing a Chiropractor, and the amount of reaccurances has decreased.  Anyways, they are a pain!  And the problem is, there is no cure!  Ahhhhhhhhhhhh
Well i was just wondering where you are all hiding!  I will email you to ask i guess?  

To wantingtohelp,
I am feel for you.  I too had an Aunt, whom i was very close too, she was like my second mother.  She had a severe drug problem(prescription), she too was a very vibrant, beautiful, funny, caring person, sober.  She was stealing, and being supported by my grandparents too.  They even paid her rent and furnished her home.  She would call them and insult them, and the next day they were there for you money wise.  I tried going over there one night, and i took her pills away from her, because she threatened to kill herself, for the hundreth time...not exaggerating.  The next day i went back and gave her pills back...because i felt she needed them.  Duh.  Anyways, my point is that i agonized over her and her pills, for a really long time.  I felt if I COULD JUST SAY THE MAGIC WORDS...she would stop.  I tried.  She loved me more than anything, to her i was put up on a pedestal...i meant the world (i have a point!)  She ended up finally killing herself 2 years ago, she overdosed. I thought that because she loved me soooo much, that i could save her.  I couldn't.  She had to want it for herself, and she did....but she didn't want it bad enough.  She chose her path, and i feel happy, hoping she is happier where she is now.  There is nothing you can do.  You can tell her you love her, be there for her (without enabling)....but there is nothing you can do to stop it....SHE has to.  I know it is hard to just sit by and watch.  Also, try to explain this to your family.  She needs them, you are right!  She needs them more now than ever.  She needs to know that everyone loves her and that they will be there for her, should she decide to quit.  But they do need to stop enabling her.  That is very important.  Anyways, i know my story isn't exactly optomistic....but my Aunt's death taught me that the only way someone will get better is if they want to and if they do it for themselves.  I can only take care of me......and this is what i am trying to do now.  Phone your aunt, tell her you love her.
I feel for you.
Take Care,
Catherine

[suzieneedshelp]

It is still not working right.  So e-amil me at ***@**** please!
ty

[Nod]

Can we talk? Nod

[hippy]

sure, whats your email

[theGolden1]

Maybe we can't "make" a person quit .... but we don't have to sit by and watch someone die. It's called "crisis intervention". A person threatening suicide or doing dangerous things can be stopped. That's the law. Find out what can be done legally, and then get the help that will give you the strength to act. Anyone "enabling" is caught up in the sickness as well. It is the hardest thing in the world to do. But if you love someone, you don't give up. It's like trying to save a drowning man ..... if you don't know how to save him, he will pull you down with him! Contact the your local mental health clinic, AA or NA, and the police (for advice) you don't have to give your name. Get the information, and start finding out what you CAN do ... Good luck to you .... Goldie

[hippy]

in the phila area you can 302 a person if it is a relative
302 ing a person is clling the police and telling them they are trying kill themselves they then will take them to a mental hospital where they will run some test and drug test and
most of the mntal wards have a drug  detox in them.
if the situation warrents this it is a last solution.
i don't know the laws were you live but that is the law here.
also when you 302 a person in pa. for trying to kill themseves they do not need to have insurence the state requies that they take them on the spot.
peace!!!!!!!!!hippy.
this also works for addicts who don't have insurence.
if they tell them they want to die or kill themseves they must be admitted.

[minime]

Does the person being 302'd get any say in the matter?  I'd think they would have to or else anyone could 302 anyone for any reason.  I thought these days a person had to consent to being put in a mental hospital.

[hippy]

they have to be a close relative to 302 a famly member.
when that famly member is trying to kill themselves.
when you are trying to kill your self it  is just like breaking
any other law.
it's jusy aginst the law.
just anyone cannot 302 a person.
peace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!