understanding recovery from vicodin addiction

[want2helphim]

My husband of 15 years is/was/has been addicted to vicodin for 5 years. Started due to aging and a teenage accident that crushed his ankle. I noticed lying, mood changes and a sudden increase in his alcohol consumption. I thoght it was depression, male menopause and money problems. During our last the year togrther we grew estranged and fear and hurt set in. He left suddenly one night and remained away, although in touch. After a separation agreement and the sale of our home, along with at least 3-4 tries of being together (last one lasted 3 weeks),he told me he had been on RX Vicodin for his ankle injury and had been being treated for the last 5 years. ME-NO CLUE!!!! He told me of an ongoing cycle of ; vicodin till the RX ran out, days of withdrawal helped by alcohol and pot, new Rx's and the same cycle for at least the last 2 years. I committed to being ther to help him, understand & get trough it. Still he would not live with me.
Finally after 6 months of an ever changing and "why do I have to give a specific day promise" he entered rehab for narcotics and alcohol and to the best of my knowledge has been clean for 2 weeks, attending meetings, as well as verbally stated that the addiction was more than he could handle without professional help! Whichhe had fastidiously denied for the last 2 years. We are planning on being together again ad rebuild our trust, the love never wavered, it just was't enough to overcome the factors. I needed to know some do's& don'ts if there are any, and signs and thresholds to be aware of for myself , him and our relationship. An ironic note-I am a Health Professional for over 20 years in pharmaceuticals!! Life plays tricks on us. Also he is in his mid 40's as am I & our kids are out of the house. He has never lost a day of work or time, nor has he driven drunk or done anything illegal to obtain his Vicodin. -need to know more-Thanks

[FLaddict]

welcome to the site.. I would recomend looking into ALanon are Naranon for support from other loved ones of addicts. I believe they have site and could direct you to info on what to look out for. Also HBO did a series not long ago about addiction and they also had a very informative web site that may help you. Being an addict myself.. I can tell you that the best thing you can do is just be there for him and support him.. Its gonna be tough.. His moods and emotions will be all over the place for awhile.. we didn't become addicted over night so recovery isn't gonna happen any faster.. it will take time.. as I am sure your relationship will need as well to heal and rebuild..

[Thomas07]

Hi, sorry for your troubles. First recognize that drug addiction is not a defect in character or a moral failure. It is a product of human physiology and a fact of human life. Also recognize that successful recovery over time is characterized by a series of relapses, with the goal being to make the relapses progressively further and further apart and, hopefully, shorter-lived each time. Beyond that, I urge you to attend alanon meetings (or the narcotic addiction equivalent) which is designed to educate the families of recovering addicts to understand and cope with the day-to-day realities of their loved ones' condition. Additionally, if you rely on alcohol or other psychoactive drugs, whether you exhibit addictive behavior or not, you should not use in front of your husband, period. Remember, there but for the grace of God go YOU. One more thing, don't ever think that you are somehow superior to your husband or in any way immune from drug and/or alcohol addiction. It could just as easily have happened to you.

As the man said, do not judge lest ye be judged.

Good luck,

Thomas