she's worse then i thought!!!!!!! now what?

[howcouldshe]

ok...so she just left. here's the story..She told me that she's had a problem with pills for the last two years...wow...i had NOOOO idea!!!! on top of that she told me she's also been taking methadone from her boyfriend for the last year and made me swear not to tell!!! I'm in my first year of medical school and we JUST learned about methadone!! Oh my GOD!!! I feel like she is i hate to say it but she is screwed.  THat is the most potent drug, and has the longest half life of ANY drug. it actually stores itself in a persons bones.    THus her withdrawls could last 1 to 4 months!!! she won't go into rehab for work purposes. she won't tell her family because they are of strict moral etc and very stubborn and narrowminded.  She wants me to help her by locking her up in my apartment and staying with her while she withdraws....i feel like i'm getting caught up in a web of lies. I've seen videos of people withdrawing from methadone and compared them to those coming off of heroine and those on methadone are far worse.  I"m so scared for her. I"m scared to watch her go through it..i dont know what to do? I honestly doubt she can do this on her own.  THere are very few who have quit c/t from it.  If it was just the pain pills such as the dillauded i would do it for her. But the METHADONE Too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! oh my god...this is far worse than i ever imagined.....PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ANd on top of that, I don't mean to sound selfish but i cannot afford to drop medical school to stay with her for the next month or so.....what should i do?

[howcouldshe]

her boyfriend lives by the university.  He was also in undergrad with her and then dropped out 6 months before graduating.  She got on methadone through him.  She said he let her try it a few times and she liked it.  Then she started taking other pain pills and once she couldn't find those she started stealing his, which is how she got to stealing mine.  Anyway as to why she started taking it i really don't know.  I'm guessing she didn't do her research before further investing in the drug and only cared about the euphoric feelings she got.  I'm going to try and convince her to come clean with her boyfriend once her symptoms and blood pressure are stableized

[howcouldshe]

well she is currently sleeping...after ranting and raving and walking around my coffee table enough times to run a marathon, i gave her another hot bath around 2 am.  after that i gave her two more percocet which let her sleep for a WHOLE HALF hour. Very dissappointing..i was kinda hoping it would knock her out for the night. She JUST fell asleep so i'm walking on pins and needles in hopes that she'll stay asleep for at minimum, one hour...I on the other hand am exhausted.  I feel like i'm dealing with a 5 year old child.  Wait...actually i feel like i'm dealing with a five year old child on crack....but i'm doing all i can....i called her parents and left them a message this morning.....they live an hour away so i'm hoping they're around somewhere to talk to me.  I've gotta get her help.  After merely one night I am SOOO exhausted and there is no way I can even try studying while she's in this condition.  for now i'm going to try to keep her as calm as possible....but i'm praying her parents will be home very SOON.  Thanks so much for all your help.....i'm soooo sleepy...
love, jess

[hopsing94]

How did the night go?

[johnnykelly]

Hi Jessica, if your friend did the perks,then the detoxing should cease as an opiate has been put in place, You have had a busy night,you have gone the extra-mile,unfortunately she could not handle the side effects of opiate withdrawl.I hope she appreciates your efforts. john

[Curls]

...I'll add...  when she's clean she's going to need you as a friend.  It will mean so much to her to know you've seen her this way and still value her.  It will help her be clean and be whole again.  It's not the end for the two of you.  It's a process she has to go through, and it may be a while before you get your friend back.

[Curls]

Some thoughts for the short term

- Tell her that she's asked you to help her and that in response for that, if you feel at any point that she's in physical danger you will take her to the ER.  (If it reaches that obviously call an ambulance and ask them to turn the siren off on your street.)  Telling her this sets up an unconscious injection of realism, and also boundries that you may need later.

- Get a blood pressure kit and check it regularly.

- Let her know that with the w/ds she's experiences - this - first time through is her best chance at clean in the long run, so taking that jump to a treatment center or sub doctor is critical.  If she goes back to using she'd be forever afraid of the w/ds and have an even harder fall into the drugs, and climb back out.  I have no idea if she'll be able to even hear this - but maybe?

If you reach your break point and decide to call - her parents, a doctor, or to kick her out - don't feel badly (so easy to say, but not to do).  If you read through months of posting on here, you'll see how much addicition takes over the person and how little you can take charge/responsiblity for it.

Hope YOU are hanging in there!!!