son on percocets

[zzbirdbrain]

I have an 18 yr old who has been abusing percs for 18 mos. he has been addicted for at least 8 mos. he is trying to stop but is back to stealing ,lying and drugs again. i have no more patience.

[GA Guy]

I define a "bottom" as the point where the thing you just lost, or the very next thing you will lose is more important than the drugs. For many of us, the pain of withdrawals is not a bottom. Tough love through an intervention and talk with his school counselor may be in order.

[zzbirdbrain]

i told him..he must take himself to rehab.thats the only place that will help him. he is a good kid. just completed first yr at college(even on drugs). i thought he hit bottom last week. we had him in er for withdrawals

[IBKleen]

I am so sorry you are going through this.

Outpatient is not going to work for him if he does not realize he has a problem and if he does not want the help. That is why I suggested inpatient so he is in a controlled environment and away from people, places and things that bring him to use drugs.

I also understand that you are mad, you should be and you will always worry...he is your child. Sad as it is, you can't help someone who doesn't want the help.

He is going to need to hit bottom to get clean if he keeps on this path. If he is stealing from you and you make it so he can't do that any longer then he may just start doing it somewhere else. I hate to say it, but jail may just be his bottom. I wish that it does not happen but often that is what it takes.

[zzbirdbrain]

he has been stealing from us. he went to outpatient for 3 days this week ...he doesnt have to go back until tuesday. last night money was missing so i threw him out. i know he called those "friends: you speak of...worried sick but mad as hell

[IBKleen]

Good Morning and Welcome!

I assume he is living with you? At that young age where is he getting the money to support his habit? Hopefully he is not stealing it from you.

It is hard when it is your child but I am a firm believer in "tough love". You need to put your foot down and set boundaries or he needs to go. I know it sounds cruel but his addiction is only going to get worse.

If you have health insurance, I strongly suggest that you consider in-patient treatment. He needs it for the physical withdrawal as well as the mental. He has to learn to live clean and to find a direction. He will need to change many things in his life including his thinking, behavior and most of all his friends.

He has a long hard road ahead of him but if he gets the help he can go on to lead a productive life.

Please keep posting and talking with the members here. There are a lot of good caring people here who can advise you and guide you.