Heroin Addiction

[Boisdeslandes]

I think my son is using Heroin again and I don't know whether to confront him or not. He has had an addiction in the past but seemed to have won the battle. Earlier this year his Dad died and he had mental health problems. No one really seems to want to help me. I am told he is not mentally ill enough to be sectioned. The durgs they prescribed don't really seem to be helping and no one from the Mental Health Team has seen him for 2 months. He says he is okay and doesn't want me 'inerfering' but I think he is only okay because he is using again. Where can I get help? or even support

[4getmenot]

You cant help, from what I've learnt in the past with any heroin users, they can only sort themselves out if they want to.

[Boisdeslandes]

I can't just do nothing it is affecting my life as well as his and given that he is mentally ill it makes the whole thing terrifying. I know you are right when you say they need to make their own decisions but he did and he was clean - maybe I have got it wrong and he has not returned to his addiction but somehow I don't think so. I feel so scared when his Dad was alive I had someone to talk to now I have no one

[redcrx]

how did he manage to quit last time? can he not start the same way again?

How is your daughter doing now? can she offer him any advice abou the mental health issues?

[4getmenot]

out of all my mates the ones that sorted themselves got to rock bottom when they had no-one and it was only then that they realised, lots have moved away to help their addiction, fresh start and all. Not good hanging with same crowd.

[Boisdeslandes]

To start a process you need the user to admit to having a problem, that took a long time last time round and I don't know how to tackle him

[jomifl]

Do you have any reason to think he is using drugs again or are you just worrying yourself unnecessarily? Have his habits or personality changed, does he have access to drugs? Can he afford them?

[redcrx]

So if he doesn't admit a problem then you have to leave him to decide.
Is your daughter able to talk to him?

[Boisdeslandes]

Yes i am sure he is using again he is having mood swings, sleeping late, nice to me at times and then horrible, all signs I have witnessed before. I can't bring myself to go through his things as I know I will find the proof I need. He looks sad at times and lost. He has little money but when you are an addict there are always way and means to get what you need. I hardly see him these days, he gets up late and goes straight out and comes in after I am in bed.

[Boisdeslandes]

Hi doesn't communicate with any family members except me now and most of his decent friends seem to have vanished too. So there is no one I can ask for help.

[4getmenot]

Have you stopped smoking cannabis now?, as he may think if you can do drugs then why cant he, and he will keep rebelling

[redcrx]

thats a shame as didnt his sister go through exactly the same thing last year, losing her dad and being sectioned.

i do have to agree with 4get though, if you use drugs then its not really setting a standard for him to follow

[Boisdeslandes]

Don't know where you get the idea I use drugs, have never used any illegal drugs in my life

[Nosha123]

I think 4get is referring to an old thread of yours..

"Does anyone know how long cannabis shows up in a blood test? I know it depends on how much you smoke but any help would be good. Does anyone know how to get it out of your blood/body quickly?"

So .. ahem.. actually you have used cannabis!

[Boisdeslandes]

No I haven't I was not talking about my use of cannibis rather yet again one of my children. I knew nothing about drugs until my kids got involved in them and all I have ever done is tried to get help. Their behaviour has meant I have learnt a lot of things I never wanted to know.

[4getmenot]

You have said you have a 9 year old possession conviction and that you smoked it. Was just suggesting this may be another reason he turned to drugs.

[Boisdeslandes]

Not me that had the convicton my son when he was a juvenile. Anyway none of this helpf me with today's problems as you can guess they have been ongoing for a while but certainly my children do not get any of these habits from me or their father

[4getmenot]

so you son was using your account on here? Well as I said you need to confront him but he wont get help until he realises he needs help

[4getmenot]

I can always tell by the voice, croaky and slow

[ummmm]

Def in the voice....