Addiction, Recovery Forum - My Brother Is a Heroin Addict.. Please Help

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Q: My Brother Is a Heroin Addict.. Please Help

asked by: xojenniexo on June 3rd, 2006

New User

My brother has had an addiction problem since he had a car accident and almost lost his arm, well his addiction was probally before that, but this is when it got bad. He went from percocet to oxycotin to heroin. The heroin addiction is ruining me and my families lives. He steals constantly, gets into trouble with the law (just recently beat a huge courtcase that would have put him in ail for 5-10 years) and now we just found out he had an overdose. He was found on the street with no id and woke up in the ambulance, in the er they shot him up, got him up and running and sent him on his way. No social worker, no contacting the family, no nothing. I guess they assumed he was homeless.
He spent the last 2 days detoxing at home and is now at this moment back out with his friends. He has been in and out of methodone clinics, long term rehabs, and aa/na meetings. There seems to be nothing else we can do. I dont know what his rock bottom could possibly be other then death.

My question is does anybody know of any in-voluntary rehabs? Ones you cant check yourself out of? Or any other suggestions?
We as a family (well the immediate family.. Me, my mom and dad) arent perfect and there are times we "enable" him, (lending him a few dollars, bailing him out of ail) but all and all we all admitt he has a problem and dont deny it. My mom cant thro him out because she is afraid the next phone call she gets will be from a morgue.
Can anybody relate or help?
Thanks

Replies(10)

yogahoneybunny

replied on March 25th, 2008

Supporter

To my knowledge, only a judge can send your brother to involuntary rehab. Such a time needs to be court ordered. What state do you live in?

CarolDiane

replied on March 26th, 2008

Extremely eHealthy

Methidone clinic! Only answer if he is that bad. I wish him all the luck.

Carrie

illustriously fickle

replied on March 27th, 2008

Experienced User

Re: My Brother Is a Heroin Addict.. Please Help

xojenniexo wrote:

He has been in and out of methodone clinics, long term rehabs, and aa/na meetings.

I'm sorry to hear that your brother's addiction to heroine is so dire. You can pray for him, but he's going to have to live for himself and make his own choices.

dancing4myself

replied on March 28th, 2008

New User

Hi, I have found that educating myself and going to supportive/support groups is a big step in living and coping with this awful way of life. Al-anon, Nar-anon, have alot of useful tools, if you can and will choose them. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

marvin5

replied on March 29th, 2008

New User

right!!

Hello, All the support groups are great. In addition, the County has a free program and assessment. It is located on Broadway in Sacramento. the have inpatient and outpatient assistance.

Nar Anon is great. but dancy4myself is right. We cannot do the work. The person addicted has to hit so low most of the time that they do want to get clean and stick to it.

Be supportive, be encouraging, but you cannot force them at all. That is the sad part about it. good luck to your brother.

mybrother

replied on September 28th, 2009

New User

I have a similar story. My brother was first on oxys then went to methadone and just recently on suboxone. He has also been to rehabs and even did that expensive pill in the abdomen treatment.. nothing has worked. He also steals from my family. My dad has now been diagnosed with cancer, and my brother is still lying and stealing from my parents. He is 35 and still living at home. He also just recently got in trouble with the law and I conviced my parents to leave him in jail for 3 days.. which they did, and supposidly he is now off of the suboxone, but I have a hard time believing that, as I've read all of the withdrawal symptoms, and he doesn't seem to have any of them. He just recently acquired a girlfriend, who seems to be just as bad as him, she is also always calling my parents house and being rude and obnoxious... all of these things I wish we could avoid with my father being so ill. I have come home from my travels to spend time with my father and mother, but it seems that I am being a babysitter for my brother when they go out somewhere. They are the same - and do not want to kick him out. They have gone to the meetings and realise they are enabling him - but, they just DON'T know what to do.. we have tried everything.

Sorry, not much advice for you here! I was just venting.
Good luck with your brother.

Maria V

replied on September 28th, 2009

Experienced User

To my knowledge, and with my experience with friends being on drugs, you can't help someone until they realize that they need help and admit it themselves. Other than that, you're just wasting time and effort.

mybrother

replied on September 28th, 2009

New User

Is it really a wasted time and effort?

That is what my parents have been asking themselves for years. They are convinced that if they haven't been here for him, he would be dead by now. In a very obvious way, they are enabling him, but as they see it, they would rather he has a place to come home too - - rather than letting him rot on the streets.

I do agree however, that yes - you cannot help someone until they want to help themselves...

Maria V

replied on September 29th, 2009

Experienced User

I think your parents are doing the right thing by being there for him and making sure that he has a place to stay, but your brother is going to do what he wants to do regardless. However, if one day he does end up dead on the street, just know it's not you or your parents fault, and that's something your parents will have to realize. Who knows? Maybe he will come to his senses one day and want to be helped, but for now, if he doesn't see the problem and he enjoys his addiction, then yes, it is a waste of effort to try and help him.

hurtsister

replied on October 8th, 2009

New User

i have two brothers addicted and they need immidiate help... i cant find any help for them.... they have no medical. they have both reciently od'd. one was left for dead by supposed friends and the other, i walked in on him not breathing.. plz help me with this

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