what can I do to help my son who is addicted to xanax?

[elle688]

I have a son who has had an addiction for many years, he ended up using heroin and has been on a burponorphine, also known as subutex, he is on 32ml daily. he also was prescribed by his doctor 2mg of seraquil for paranoia and  psychosis. A couple of years of ago he started to have epileptic fits, approximately at the same time he was introduced to xanax by another adicict and finally he managed to get a doctor to prescribe it and was heaverly abusing it. he has been having more sizures, his EEG late last year showed that he has epilespy. his neurologist put him on epelim tables and also gave him a referral to see a psychiatrist and strongly adviced for him to work with the psychiatrist to slowly reduce off xanax. unfortunately, the psychiatrist will not see him until he detoxes for xanax  and suggested he go into a rehibilitation clinic, but he is so far gone and heaverly addicted, is hellucitating, his kidneys must be also giving up, because when he goes to the toilet I can hear him in pain and tricklin and stopping as he passes urine. He is so angry, abussive and continuesly talking to himself. he accused me of taking his xanax and does not remember that he  is medicating himelf on them, he also is continuosly talking about killing himelf and is not eating. I phone the extended hours, the mental health unit as I feel scared for his safety and hous, but as he is known to them, they just said he is an adult and he needs get help if he so choices. I cannot watch him kill himself, I took him to the doctor who is still prescribing the xanax, in the hope that I could inform her of everything else his taking ans well as the heavy addiction to xanax. she asked him if he would be prepared to see a psychiatrist, she gave him a referral, only for him to be turned down again. last night he was so angry, he told me that he was going to take the whole bottle of xanax because he wanted to die. I ran the hospital, but they told me to keep an eye on him and if I was concern to ring an ambulance. has anyone got any suggestions how I can help and if there are compulsory admitions?

[mammo]

Your son needs to be in the hospital where he can de-tox and be monitored 24/7, is this possible?  The doctor who is prescribing him the Xanax needs to be reported for prescribibg to an addict.  But right now your son is the focus, make some calls and find out how to get him into a hospital where he can get help.  They need to sort thru all this and treat what actually needs treatment, and get him back to normal.  It sounds like his life had been difficult with his health issues, and I know very hard on you as well.  I don't think there is any more you can do for him.  I would think as his mother and knowing everything that you could get him into a hospital without needing his permission.  I feel this is his only hope, and my heart aches for you having to sit by and watch your son destroy himself. Good luck with this and take care...

[taylor261]

My mom is bipolar scitzophrenic and I hear it is completely legal to take someone that is in harm to themselves and others to the hospital for a 24 hour psychological evaluation. I completely agree with mammo on this one. You must take him to the hospital because he is in danger of harming yourself and possibly you. I would possibly contact a hospital and see what your options are, maybe you can call a ambulance to pick him up, maybe the police, or maybe you can take him in yourself. He definitely needs to detox off the xanax. I was addicted for xanax for a year and its most definitely making things worse for him. You have to be brave and take action because he can no longer control himself so you need to do everything you possibly can to help him. If the ambulance and police can't help you then you need to somehow trick him into your car and take him in. He needs psychological and psychiatric help so if he needs to get off the xanax to get that then he absolutely needs to get off of it. Please feel free to contact me at ***@**** if you need any assistance but I know there are plenty more members on this forum that would be more of a help. I wish you the best and I know this isn't easy for you, but just keep strong and positive.

[Brianlame]

Since the hospital and everyone else seem inept to help him in your area I can only suggest one thing and this might sound awful, but get all of his friends and family members that are still worth a damn grab him and throw him a barricaded room with nothing sharp or dangerous and force him to detox.  Then when he gets done with the days of hell he will no doubt experience.  Have people stand watch.  Then after however long it takes to detox go in there grab him then take him to a shrink. I know it sounds awful, but if I ever got that badly addicted to something and depressed I'd hope my loved ones would do the same for me.

[abby10]

See site benzo.org.uk (ashton manual) coming off the benzos can cause seizures. He needs to be crossed over to valium or klonopin and slowly tapered off. I don't know how you wil do this with his abuse history.

Get to a benzo support community and find help. Look up the word "benzodiazepine". They will give you a slow taper plan. The medical community will not know how to slowly taper him off. His current doctor can't abruptly cut him off, this could cause seizure or worse, but he should be given an opportunity of taper off with a long half life benzo. The hospitals and rehabs are BRUTAL. Shrinks are going to over drug him, he may not need psych drugs, I don't have any idea. Drugs such a neurtonin will only add to his addiction as they will work on the same brain receptors and any alcohol will be very dangerous.

Brian"lame", you are out of your mind. You know nothing about how deadly a cold turkey off benzos is and your advise is extremely dangerous.

abby