How Do We Help a Friend Who Is Relapsing Into Drug/alcohol Addiction?
Question by scruffycat: How do we help a friend who is relapsing into drug/alcohol addiction?
I am asking in this section, because this person, in her past, has done prison and jail time due to her addictions. I met her over a year ago and she started coming to church with me and getting a handle on her life. She rebuilt her relationship with her young daughter (although, she did not have full custody of her). This person had spent her own childhood being abused, then had spent most of her teen and adult life doing hard core drugs like crack and heroin. She gave up drugs about 6 years ago, and gave up alcohol a little over a year ago. Her child was born late in her life, so although the daughter is only 6, the mother is 50.
Anyway, my friend had been doing very well. She’s been on probation from DWIs and one DUI, but she has been doing so well, her P.O. has mentioned how proud he was of her. Her probation will be up in January.
Now, over the past month, she has experienced a dramatic personality change. I was too slow to recognize it at first. She kept telling me about this horrible pain in her leg and she went to the ER for a pain shot. When I went to the pharmacy to get her prescriptions filled, they said they wouldn’t fill the vicodin, because she’d just gotten a prescription filled. Then I remembered that she had told me to go to a different pharmacy than her regular one. Long story short.. I (and other friends of hers) have good reason to believe she is addicted to the pain meds and is drinking again. (Also, she is bipolar and had her meds changed recently, so that is also a contributing factor).
The small group of friends who embraced her, including myself, met with this person a couple of days ago. I had called the county adult crisis hotline and they gave us the steps to follow to get help for this person. We convinced her to come with us voluntarily for a psych eval at the adult crisis center, per the hot line advice. When we got there, I went in with her to talk to the case mgr… who told us that they could not help her unless she was suicidal or homicidal or otherwise a danger to herself or others. I told the case mgr about my friend’s problem with the pain killers. The friend then went ballistic on me and the world. The case mgr said there was nothing she could do and everything descended into hell from there.
So here we are, a group of friends who want to help this person. She has a daughter whom we have all bonded with and we don’t want her to be traumatized into following her mother’s footsteps. If the friend could be stabilized with her bipolar, I am sure it would be easier to get her detoxed.
What are our options? Are there any options? This is in Bexar County in Texas, if that is any help. Are there options for people who don’t want to stand by and watch a friend trash her life and the lives of her children?
Asked ths question earlier, but it did not post. Am reposting it.
KC V, what do you think about a mental health warrant? Have you heard of that? Would that be the way to go? The judge would send sherriffs to her door to bring her to the crisis center, involuntarily. We have already told her that we love her and welcome her as our friend and in the group, but that we would no longer help her financially until she agreed to go get help.
My primary concern, at tis point, is for that little daughter. She has seen so much and been through so much in her 7 short years of life. This past year has been the only year in that girl’s life that her mom has been sober. I hate to see her little life destroyed. Since our “intervention” attempt failed so miserably, I know that I will not be allowed to spend any time with that little girl. I care for the mom as a friend; but as a former teacher, I care for that little girl and her future even more.
Should I call her probation officer and talk to him about it???
Best answer:
Answer by KC V ™
Having worked narcotics as many years as I have…I’ve learned how difficult it is for someone to get off the drugs.
You’re off to a great start by having so many friends pulling together to help your friend. Using her child as motivation get your friend in to rehab any way you can.
I have worked too many overdoses from pain medications and wouldn’t want to see a child lose her mother to drugs.
Get her in rehab!
Give your answer to this question below!
Addiction Hotline Today Testimonial – thank you for this Addiction Hotline Today Testimonial. We are so glad you are getting the help you needed. addictionhotlinetoday.com
Casino Expected To Increase Number of Problem Gamblers
Filed under: drug addiction help hotline
Even though the Columbus casino hasn't opened yet, most requests on the hotline are coming from Franklin County, and the biggest addiction is the slot machine, followed by table games. The lottery, which … "We expect an increase in business, which is …
Read more on NBC4i.com
What's happening today in the north valley
Filed under: drug addiction help hotline
24-hour hotline, 877-6361. Weekly. Hepatitis C Support Group: 12:30-1:30 p.m., lunch included, at Chico Family Health Center/Ampla Help, 680 Cohasset Road. Jeanette Warner, 566-7513, or [email protected]. Second Thursday. American Chronic Pain …
Read more on Enterprise-Record