SIDEBAR #17- Arias/Alexander forum

[LambChop]

There are a lot of families out there today dealing with this. I'd say it's pretty hard to find a family today that does not have some family member or an extended family member who has a drug problem to some degree or another. It is a big problem in this country. Are there support groups for family members? I know they have the programs for alcohol addiction but do they have them for drug addiction as well?

 

[Ricki]

I wish I could say I can't imagine what you've been through, but I can. My son is on methadone, and I hate it. My husband and I have often said it's only trading one addiction for another. My biggest question is, when will he ever be OFF the methadone? I've talked to others who have relatives in the program and they talk YEARS. When will I ever have my lovely talented son back again?

I had a crappy cell phone video of him in his 8th grade talent show that I cherished, because he was so talented. I recently lost it (long story), and it broke my heart. I want my son back.

And as Forrest Gump would say, that's all I have to say about that. :lol:

I am sorry that we have this in common.
My daughter is on methadone. She has been on it for nearly 15 years. I don't think she will ever be off it as much as I would love for her to be.
She says it makes her feel normal. I can not relate to that. Heroin made her not care. Methadone makes her feel normal. She acts normal on it. We have a good relationship. Terrible relationship, practically non existent relation ship when she was doing the dope. I will never understand what makes one even want to try that sh$t. So many kids that came to our home, good kids with good families, ones you would of never of thought would, fell pray to that stuff. I don't get it.

 

[PrincessSezMe]

Thank you for asking Princess. My fever broke and I got prescription medicine and I am improving.

All these stories about kids addicted to drugs is so sad. I never used illegal drugs because I was so afraid of them. The pain for a parent is horrible.

Things are so different for the kids now Kensie. It was so much more innocent when we were kids. The drugs were there, but not like it is now. It's the prescription meds that are the biggest problem. I've never had them in my house....he didn't get them here. It was the parent of a friend. Chronic back pain, and an endless supply of vicodin and dilaudid.

I'm glad you're feeling better.

 

[Ricki]

There are a lot of families out there today dealing with this. I'd say it's pretty hard to find a family today that does not have some family member or an extended family member who has a drug problem to some degree or another. It is a big problem in this country. Are there supp
ort groups for family members? I know they have the programs for alcohol addiction but do they have them for drug addiction as well?

There was one here at the out patient rehab. They encourage family members to go. I would imagine there are other hospitals do the same.

There is this. http://www.narconon.org/drug-abuse/parents-get-help.html

 

[PrincessSezMe]

I am sorry that we have this in common.
My daughter is on methadone. She has been on it for nearly 15 years. I don't think she will ever be off it as much as I would love for her to be.
She says it makes her feel normal. I can not relate to that. Heroin made her not care. Methadone makes her feel normal. She acts normal on it. We have a good relationship. Terrible relationship, practically non existent relation ship when she was doing the dope. I will never understand what makes one even want to try that sh$t. So many kids that came to our home, good kids with good families, ones you would of never of thought would, fell pray to that stuff. I don't get it.

He acts normal most of the time, but sometimes he falls asleep in the middle of a sentence. He was always so sharp before, so that's a hard thing.

Thanks Ricki...not an easy row to hoe.

 

[Ricki]

He acts normal most of the time, but sometimes he falls asleep in the middle of a sentence. He was always so sharp before, so that's a hard thing.

Thanks Ricki...not an easy row to hoe.

She works, takes care of her kids, her pets, her apartment. Sometimes she has a whinny tone to her voice...not often. She is loving, and compassionate and caring and so sorry for the things that she has done. I am just glad she is alive. It could of been tragic had she not gotten the help. Still I wish she could be normal without it.

 

[Ricki]

Things are so different for the kids now Kensie. It was so much more innocent when we were kids. The drugs were there, but not like it is now. It's the prescription meds that are the biggest problem. I've never had them in my house....he didn't get them here. It was the parent of a friend. Chronic back pain, and an endless supply of vicodin and dilaudid.

I'm glad you're feeling better.

Oh my gosh. They gave me dilaudid when I was in the hospital several years ago. They say it is stronger than morphine. I felt my eyes roll in back of my head and I fought not to pass out and my heart was pounding and then I felt no pain and fell asleep. It was a terrible feeling not to be in control of myself.

 

[m1279]

Looks like i have a LOT to read tomorrow when i get to work. My phone stinks but i can read a little. Zuri, i don't know what's going on but you're amazing and I'm sorry you're going through a rough time. Again, I'll have to catch up tomorrow! Money issues so cable or internet here Anyway, love and hugs, chat tomorrow

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[daisymae]

Hi everyone. :seeya:

 

[PrincessSezMe]

Hi everyone. :seeya:

Hello miss daisy :seeya:

 

[daisymae]

Hello miss daisy :seeya:

I see my friends are troubled tonight. And it saddens me.

 

[PrincessSezMe]

I see my friends are troubled tonight. And it saddens me.

Me too miss daisy .

 

[daisymae]

Me too miss daisy .

Is Zuri coming back tonight? Sorry I missed her.

 

[Zuri]

There are a lot of families out there today dealing with this. I'd say it's pretty hard to find a family today that does not have some family member or an extended family member who has a drug problem to some degree or another. It is a big problem in this country. Are there support groups for family members? I know they have the programs for alcohol addiction but do they have them for drug addiction as well?

You are absolutely correct, unfortunately. There are groups like Al-Anon, Narcotics Anonymous, AA. As a medical professional, I knew how to navigate through the system to get my son help. I also resorted to pleading, begging with the insurance company to cover the initial rehab. It is not easy. We had insurance and they still played games trying to only give my son 5 days. I managed to get 11 days which is unheard of and that is because I knew the president of the insurance company. And yes I called him. And I begged.

Mental illness is a huge underlying component to drug abuse. A lot of these kids start out with prescription pills and then progress to the more hard core stuff because the pills are now harder to get. Black Tar Heroin is cheap and cut with flour and Lord knows what else. $5.00 gets you a hit compared to $30 for a Percocet. The DEA has cracked down on doctors prescribing narcotics for this very reason. Too many people were selling their pills, and unfortunately docs were selling scripts too. The fines and suspensions for doctors is huge. Each state looks at the amounts of narcotics being prescribed and by whom.

Florida has the most lax laws and least regulation. Delaware is incredibly strict. I can remember people coming in complaining of pain and requesting Percocet. They were given Motrin.

Drug abuse amongst kids seems to start in high school and escalates when they go off to college. Alcohol first and then up. Kids with ADHD sell their pills and/or snort them. It is out of control. A large group of kids self medicate to cope. A lot of drug abuse is seen in mental illness for the same reasons.

I speak openly and freely on here about my "issues" in an effort to remove the stigma, yet it doesn't mean it is easy. I am judged. My son is judged. All I can say is that I hope and pray that those that do judge never, ever have to go through this hell. And it is hell. Some days are better than others.

 

[Zuri]

Daisy, my fun flower, how are you? Tell us something happy and fun. We need it.

 

[daisymae]

My best friend has a very troubled 20 year old daughter, so I understand some of these things. She does some drugs, stole her mom's car twice while drunk and wrecked it both times, quit school in the 10th and won't get her GED, etc. She, however, loves her job. She will be 21 in Nov. and still has no drivers license and mom shuffles her everywhere like she is 12.

 

[daisymae]

Daisy, my fun flower, how are you? Tell us something happy and fun. We need it.

Hey Zuri! Fun and happy? Hmmmm, let me think! You holding up, OK?

 

[Zuri]

I managed to make some progress on the gravy train front. My son has assumed all his expenses. My daughters are working at the stable to pay their board down. And I got my daughters hooked up with a life coach therapist type person. And now I just have to get my husband to get plugged in. That would be huge.

 

[Zuri]

Daisy, my FF, what is your favorite soap?

 

[daisymae]

I managed to make some progress on the gravy train front. My son has assumed all his expenses. My daughters are working at the stable to pay their board down. And I got my daughters hooked up with a life coach therapist type person. And now I just have to get my husband to get plugged in. That would be huge.

That is good progress!