Advice for a ex heroin addict

[tillyh345]

I have a friend who unfortunately slipped into a heroin addiction, however has now been clean for over two years on a methadone prescription. Which I think is a great achievement, but we cant seem to get her motivated to move on with life,she doesnt have many friends and stays in her flat playing her x box. She says she has lots of friends on there but they arent real friends are they? Any advice would be grateful...or is it again just up to the individual to want more?

[ummmm]

Is she off the methadone?

Maybe her addiction knocked her confidence.

My friend became a heroin addict a few years back. I stood by him the whole time. In the end he stopped contacting me because he felt ashamed.

[NoMercy]

Perhaps it was something in the "outside" world that made her turn to heroin in the first place. Just be patient with her, and help her take little steps.

[tillyh345]

no shes not off the methadone yet apparently this is a long term thing? It was a close family bereavement and bullying at school which took her down the wrong road, all very sad...I wish more people could have a clearer understanding of the drug regime and realise these people need support not just writing off. Its the dealers that are the scum and prey on the vulnerable...btw thanks for your replies xx

[ummmm]

I understand it.

But I stuggle to understand what makes people take it in the first place.

[4getmenot]

she is not really clean then as methodone is just a substitute. good for her for getting off the smack though, but two years seems to be a long time to still be on methodone. I have alot of old mates that have been on heroine. About 8 years ago most of my freinds were, luckily I never got into it. Some I;ve helped and thay have come out the other side, but I;ve realised over time you cant help them unless they are willing to help themselves. There is only so much you can do. Some I dont speak to anymore, ones that lied and stole from me, others that came off it then everyday expected to be praised for getting off something they shouldnt have touched in first place. Really if this girl doesnt want to go out and is happy playing on x box thats up to her. Alot of ex heroine addicts are too scared to go out where they could easily pick the old habit up again

[4getmenot]

Go round and see her as much as you can but I have a feeling the x box is a way of keeping her mind off the temptation that waits outside the door.

[daffy654]

Methadone is harder to kick than heroin according to an ex-addict friend of mine. Your friend is still an addict........she is just addicted to methadone now instead of heroin.
She will have to want to get motivated to go out,nothing you do or say will make her do it.

[Seadragon]

To add to the above posts, and as you say, it is an amazing achievement in itself for a person to try and overcome heroin addiction in the first place and I think as 4getmenot says the Xbox is providing a distraction. It sounds like she's afraid to go out as she may not be able to cope and not want to regress to her old habits. You could offer to go with her alittle at a time and to stay with her at all times? Maybe in the day first, shopping, cafes etc and then evenings at the cinema, a short time in the pub or bar later. Until she builds her confidence and can maybe deal with the world. Friends can always come later - besides she has you.

[saxy_jag]

How kind of you to stick with your friend through this. You are a very good friend indeed and I applaud you. Your post struck a chord with me because I know of someone who kicked heroine only to become depressed to the point of suicide. Despite the depression, the suicide was unexpected and the world was deprived of someone very special. I would so hate this to happen to your friend, not the least because she probably has a whole heap of untapped potential.

Typical of depression is this insistence by the sufferer that they're perfectly happy with their situation. As Ummmm says, maybe her confidence has been knocked and this is her way of pretending otherwise, to the point where she convinces herself she's OK. You know better, of course, and so will she, in the end, but right now she won't thank you for your help. Please try to accept that this is the nature of depression.

Have a look at http://www.talktofrank.com , maybe even give them a call. They should be able to give you ways of helping.