Aa
Heroin addiction
Hi,
I'm new to this group chat . My son is addicted to heroin. It's been heartbreaking and exhausting to watch him go through this. It's been very hard on me and my family. Watching my son's addiction and the struggles all addicts face has inspired me to go to college and become a Chemical Dependency Counselor. I'm in my last year and an intern at a treatment center. There are so many misconceptions about drug addicts and their families. I am due to graduate in May, I've told my son I really want him at my graduation. I pray he makes it that long, I know he wants help, but he seems for now, to want the heroin more. I'm inspired by the recovery posts I've read good for you...you've earned recovery, addicted is an awful way to go through life.
I'm new to this group chat . My son is addicted to heroin. It's been heartbreaking and exhausting to watch him go through this. It's been very hard on me and my family. Watching my son's addiction and the struggles all addicts face has inspired me to go to college and become a Chemical Dependency Counselor. I'm in my last year and an intern at a treatment center. There are so many misconceptions about drug addicts and their families. I am due to graduate in May, I've told my son I really want him at my graduation. I pray he makes it that long, I know he wants help, but he seems for now, to want the heroin more. I'm inspired by the recovery posts I've read good for you...you've earned recovery, addicted is an awful way to go through life.
Hi Sherri,
Its a pity that the meeting you went to is so small, but by being there yourself you are helping to build it up. If you went a little further a field you should find a bigger one and then hopefully you will meet people who have loved ones who have come through addiction/alcoholism. However the small group could help you as just talking to others really helps.
I wonder if your son had any support when he came out of treatment centres in the past?
This is really what he really needs. Often people come out with all the very best will in the world to stay clean but if left alone at sometime the addict in their heads will start to tell them that it is ok now to use again. It is not their fault. Often people may despair and say after all they went through at the treatment centre, they did so well and now they are out using again. It is very hard for someone who does not have an addictive personality to understand. Of course another addict will understand and this is why they need contact with another addict (in recovery) to help them through those first few months. As addicts/alcoholics we have learned to deal with problems in life by blocking them out (ie drinking or using drugs). Problems will continue to be there (sober or not) so we need to look to others who were in our position, to learn how they dealt with every day life. It is rare that an addict can stay clean alone. I expect its a bit early to talk to him about meetings? I just hope so much that meetings will be promoted at the tx centre he goes to, he just might listen to them. However, I think it is unlikely he will listen to you or me and we have to be so careful not to push it, but you could learn all this stuff at al anon.
My neice first suggested that i went to aa. She had meet someone in a tx centre that recommended it to her. I had no idea that I was an alcoholic but i knew alcohol was getting me in a mess. So i went with her 'as a friend' and soon identified with other people. Through aa I discovered na where i started tackling my drug use. I found this harder but once i had got through withdrawals I started finding life easier. In all the fellowships it is suggested that you find a sponsor, this is someone who has been through the same as you and passes on their experiences and helps you through times when your head starts telling you to use a drug.
I don't know if your son is willing to think about going to a meeting but i do know that the suggestion would be far far betting coming from another addict rather than from you.
I notice that Mikchez suggested herion anonymous, that would be great if he contacted them but if those meetings are a bit hard to find na/aa would be just as good.
All the very best keep in touch.
Love Lynne
Its a pity that the meeting you went to is so small, but by being there yourself you are helping to build it up. If you went a little further a field you should find a bigger one and then hopefully you will meet people who have loved ones who have come through addiction/alcoholism. However the small group could help you as just talking to others really helps.
I wonder if your son had any support when he came out of treatment centres in the past?
This is really what he really needs. Often people come out with all the very best will in the world to stay clean but if left alone at sometime the addict in their heads will start to tell them that it is ok now to use again. It is not their fault. Often people may despair and say after all they went through at the treatment centre, they did so well and now they are out using again. It is very hard for someone who does not have an addictive personality to understand. Of course another addict will understand and this is why they need contact with another addict (in recovery) to help them through those first few months. As addicts/alcoholics we have learned to deal with problems in life by blocking them out (ie drinking or using drugs). Problems will continue to be there (sober or not) so we need to look to others who were in our position, to learn how they dealt with every day life. It is rare that an addict can stay clean alone. I expect its a bit early to talk to him about meetings? I just hope so much that meetings will be promoted at the tx centre he goes to, he just might listen to them. However, I think it is unlikely he will listen to you or me and we have to be so careful not to push it, but you could learn all this stuff at al anon.
My neice first suggested that i went to aa. She had meet someone in a tx centre that recommended it to her. I had no idea that I was an alcoholic but i knew alcohol was getting me in a mess. So i went with her 'as a friend' and soon identified with other people. Through aa I discovered na where i started tackling my drug use. I found this harder but once i had got through withdrawals I started finding life easier. In all the fellowships it is suggested that you find a sponsor, this is someone who has been through the same as you and passes on their experiences and helps you through times when your head starts telling you to use a drug.
I don't know if your son is willing to think about going to a meeting but i do know that the suggestion would be far far betting coming from another addict rather than from you.
I notice that Mikchez suggested herion anonymous, that would be great if he contacted them but if those meetings are a bit hard to find na/aa would be just as good.
All the very best keep in touch.
Love Lynne
Hi Lynne,
That you for the great advise. I did find one Al Anon group in my area but there is only 1-2 people there, so that's why I'm looking online. I'm glad to hear of your recovery that is terrific. Your right it is important to have a sober peer support. I should know soon where my son is going to be placed. It won't be his first treatment center, there have been many. Hopefully now he's a little older...and alot more tired of the whole struggle. I see a counselor myself because I realized one day how can I keep expecting him to change everything about himself, I really need to look at me and see how I might be a part of all this. I do believe strongly in meetings. He just keeps thinking he can do it on his own and he can't. Big hurry to get to the list of "life" he's been putting off for so long, unable to get to. I'm learning I'm powerless to help. It's nice to reach out and talk to people in recovery or who are loving an addict hoping they will make the change to sobriety, someday. Do really remember what "changed" you? Was it one day or one new treatment center?
Sherri
That you for the great advise. I did find one Al Anon group in my area but there is only 1-2 people there, so that's why I'm looking online. I'm glad to hear of your recovery that is terrific. Your right it is important to have a sober peer support. I should know soon where my son is going to be placed. It won't be his first treatment center, there have been many. Hopefully now he's a little older...and alot more tired of the whole struggle. I see a counselor myself because I realized one day how can I keep expecting him to change everything about himself, I really need to look at me and see how I might be a part of all this. I do believe strongly in meetings. He just keeps thinking he can do it on his own and he can't. Big hurry to get to the list of "life" he's been putting off for so long, unable to get to. I'm learning I'm powerless to help. It's nice to reach out and talk to people in recovery or who are loving an addict hoping they will make the change to sobriety, someday. Do really remember what "changed" you? Was it one day or one new treatment center?
Sherri
Have just googled, alcoholics anonymous and then taken the first option that came up and it does give a full list of meetings, just put in your area, then town etc. Narcotics anonymous and al anon are the same, just google which you want and you will get a full list of meetings.
I do hope he goes to the treatment centre.
All the very best.
Lynne x
I do hope he goes to the treatment centre.
All the very best.
Lynne x
Hi Sherri,
Havn't been on for a couple of days, just so ooo glad your son has reached out for help.
Lots of people in the fellowships have come from treatment centres. Many of them need to go to treatment centres first to withdraw. Obviously if they don't have any support once they finish tx, they will almost certainly return to their drug of choice at some point.
Hopefully the treatment centre he goes to will suggest aa/na, i know some of them do. It is difficult living in a rural area but you should be able to find AA not too far away. I think all the meetings are listed on the website (i use a little book called 'where to find' which you can only get at meetings) i will check this and the website and get back to you tonight. There are less NA meetings, but I personally got my clean time from AA, replacing the word alcohol with my drug of choice. The programme is the same. Of course you find many people with cross addiction (alcohol and other drugs) and they often go to both meetings.
As for Al anon I think it would be so fantastic if you could get to a meeting. I have never been to one myself but have known many people who have learnt so much from others in the same or similar situation as yourself. I don't know if there is an equivalent for drugs but if there is not, there will be people who attend for loved ones who are addicted to both. I will check out the website for al anon also.
Finally, I am sure i could find someone in recovery who would be vey happy to talk to your son, either by phone, email or whatever. I could find someone his age, sex and same drug addiction. There are many of us! We want to help, to spread the message and there is nothing better than one addict talking to another addict because they understand and will not judge.
Will get back to you soon.
Lynne
Havn't been on for a couple of days, just so ooo glad your son has reached out for help.
Lots of people in the fellowships have come from treatment centres. Many of them need to go to treatment centres first to withdraw. Obviously if they don't have any support once they finish tx, they will almost certainly return to their drug of choice at some point.
Hopefully the treatment centre he goes to will suggest aa/na, i know some of them do. It is difficult living in a rural area but you should be able to find AA not too far away. I think all the meetings are listed on the website (i use a little book called 'where to find' which you can only get at meetings) i will check this and the website and get back to you tonight. There are less NA meetings, but I personally got my clean time from AA, replacing the word alcohol with my drug of choice. The programme is the same. Of course you find many people with cross addiction (alcohol and other drugs) and they often go to both meetings.
As for Al anon I think it would be so fantastic if you could get to a meeting. I have never been to one myself but have known many people who have learnt so much from others in the same or similar situation as yourself. I don't know if there is an equivalent for drugs but if there is not, there will be people who attend for loved ones who are addicted to both. I will check out the website for al anon also.
Finally, I am sure i could find someone in recovery who would be vey happy to talk to your son, either by phone, email or whatever. I could find someone his age, sex and same drug addiction. There are many of us! We want to help, to spread the message and there is nothing better than one addict talking to another addict because they understand and will not judge.
Will get back to you soon.
Lynne
Hi Vicki,
I've been informed today that he has reached out for help and is going into a treatment facility. I'm not going to be to encouraged as yet, he's tried alot of treatment and nothing has hit him yet. I'm hoping he'll be ready to make the change.
I've been informed today that he has reached out for help and is going into a treatment facility. I'm not going to be to encouraged as yet, he's tried alot of treatment and nothing has hit him yet. I'm hoping he'll be ready to make the change.
Hi Lynne,
I've heard of it but it seems hard to find. I live in a pretty rural community and it's almost impossible to find an al anon meeting. People don't want to think heroin hits small towns but it's here in a big way. Where can I go to learn more about that? I wish he could find someone in recovery
I've heard of it but it seems hard to find. I live in a pretty rural community and it's almost impossible to find an al anon meeting. People don't want to think heroin hits small towns but it's here in a big way. Where can I go to learn more about that? I wish he could find someone in recovery
http://heroin-anonymous.org = NO MORE SUFFERING
It works also. They work out of the AA Book. There is a lot of younger people very good recovery. Good Luck Peace /Love
It works also. They work out of the AA Book. There is a lot of younger people very good recovery. Good Luck Peace /Love
Hi, I do hope you son tries to get well soon. I expect you must have heard of Na (narcotics anonymous) if not please let me know and i will tell you more about it. It has worked for so many addicts, herion it seems in particular. Of course your son will need to want to stop using but you could make a few very suble suggestions maybe with the help of another (recovering) addict. One addict helping another addict is the best therapy i have ever found. NA was born of AA of course, which uses the same principle of one alcoholic helping another.
Best wishes
Lynne
Best wishes
Lynne
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