How can I help?

[simonze]

My daughter is hooked.  This year her kids are not going to have Santa as there is no money.  Her husband has spent what they had on itunes cards for his phone.  I know she is stressed out but there are 2 kids who need their mom to get it together.  Please give me some advise on how I can help her.  ANY and ALL advise would be appreciated since this is my first time and I know very little about it.  She is very close mouthed about the amount she takes but she seems to need immodium all the time.  Please, any advise will help!

[newoutlook12]

To be able not about sorry

[newoutlook12]

So I don't have much to add the 2 posters before me pretty much coved it. But this was a very sad reminder for me, my life was the same way 4 years ago. Having a horrible addiction, no money, no life and at Christmas no money for gifts. My mother would have to buy a few things for me to give to my daughter. I cried reading your post because it was such a reminder of where I've been! I just wanted to give you some hope though, she can turn this around for herself and be able to give those kids a better life. Four years ago my husband and I were both addicted to herion but after getting clean we now have a great life together for our children. And for the last two years at Christmas we have been lucky and blessed enough to be about to give them anything they could want or need. Even enough to be able to take them to give to others that aren't so lucky, my oldest daughter loves this. We take a couple hundred dollars worth of gifts to a local shelter and give them to the children. Its so nice to be able to give back to people that we were once in there shoes. I wish u a merry Christmas,  hope you can get the little ones a little something for Christmas. I will also be praying that your daughter will wake up and see the light and want to change her life for the better.  

[NeverAgain127]

Excellent post.

We cannot do anything about someone else's addiction.   Unless someone truly wants to quit, they will keep using, period.

I'm worried about your grandchildren.   They deserve something for Christmas.  Can you take them for the day, and treat them to something special?

I can sympathize with you...one of my closest friends has a child who is an addict, and it has been HELL for her.   What about the father's parents?  Are they any help at all?

What is she taking; do you know?  Immodium is for diarrhea, and opiates are VERY constipating.   She might be using and then running out and going into withdrawals, and that is why she is taking the Immodium.   It IS an opiod, but it does not cross the BBB (Blood Brain Barrier).  However, there is a popular misconception on the street that if you take huge amounts of it, you can substitute it for heroin or pills and get high.  It's dangerous to use it that way...just as dangerous as the opiates themselves.

I second the opinion that you should DEFINITELY check out "Living with an Addict."  

My first concern, however, is the kids.   My heart breaks when I think of them without any gifts this Christmas.   What about Toys for Tots?  Community programs?  Here we have The Giving Tree...

I'm going to keep you in my prayers and thoughts.  

Hugs,
-Robin

[VICourageous]

Hi & Welcome.
What is she using?? How long has she been using?
The sad thing is, if someone is a Addict then she will have to want to stop. She would either have to go into treatment or start some form of Aftercare like meetings..Addiction is a brain disease and a progressive one at that. The drugs take over a certain part of the brain and all we think about is our next pill or whatever. The natural part of the brain to survive is now all about drugs or booze. I am SO SO sorry to hear this. She needs to realize that she is a Addict and needs serious help. She has to be the one to admit it and WANT the help. YOU can help by Not enabling her. Some times tough love goes along ways. They are getting very strict about Addiction these days and if she gets them from a DR, you could call him and let them know you have concerns. Then they will work with her to get off of them. They see this every min of the day and it is getting harder and harder to get pain pills or any addicting pill. Also I would be very afraid of something happening and she could get those kids taken while she gets help. I am SO sorry but this is a very serious issue here..WE do have TONS of MOMS & DADS on here that still feel the guilt to this day for using instead of spending more time with the kids and watching them grow up.

Just keep checking your post and you should have others come on..We do come in waves now and then. Also if you can not find this in this area then they have moved it to "Living with a Addict"..I sure hope not because it has been kind of slow lately and this community is the busy one.

If she does admit she has a problem then have her come on here..WE sure will talk with her and hold her hand all the way..YOU try to stay calm so this does not get you sick. I know it is hard but there is hope if you keep the Faith up.
Bless