New Here - My story

[stressedoutmom]

Hello-
I figured I better start with my story (or rather my son's story) before I ask for advice. My son-then 18 started using heroin when he met a former co-worker of his and his girlfriend. The couple broke up, and my son started dating the girl. When I found out about it, I tried an intervention but my darling son broke his hand when he hit a wall.

Things started getting better, he stopped using until he relapsed once. That was all it took. His girlfriend completed suicide and he just recently hit bottom when he lost his job and his car. Now we are looking for a rehab program for him(his choice not mine this time) but we have a major problem. No insurance. I am disabled and can't have him on my disability and he is not employed.. So does anyone know of rehab programs out there that I can check out that aren't 6 months to a year?

Stressedoutmom

[stressedoutmom]

I forgot to add that my son is now 19 and the girl he was dating completed suicide on Dec.23,2006.

stressedoutmom

[QuietLunatic]

Try contacting your local branch of Narconon. They should be able to point you in the direction of free rehab for your son.

[mtajim]

I think there should be some rehab who can help your son . Try in your locality or looking for some NGOs they might help in it

[nomadic addict]

i am the mother of a loooooong term addict. my advice would be take your child to an isolated place in the middle of knowhere and detox, then stay there for 6-12 months to rehabilitate. detox is easy its the rehabilitation thats the hard part. heroin WILL get a grip..............................................

[darsh999]

I forgot to add that my son is now 19 and the girl he was dating completed suicide on Dec.23,2006.

[addictionstyle]

There are many NGO working in this regard and would help you in free rehab. I have a link for the free rehab centre available locally.
(http://www.drug-rehabs.com/)

[rafael]

Try to make him mentally strong before taking him to any rehab centre and try make him understand that life doesn't stop for anyone we must move on. There are sad and happy phase which comes one after another. There is beautiful morning after every dark night.

[exjunky]

Things started getting better, he stopped using until he relapsed once. That was all it took. ... So does anyone know of rehab programs out there that I can check out that aren't 6 months to a year?

I'm a little bit confused as to the current state of affairs. He's an actively using addict, is that right? By that I mean he has an active habit, he does heroin a couple times a day, and he gets sick when he stops using it?

Or is he just teetering between being clean and falling back into the lifestyle?

There is a method of rehab where the addict takes an "extended vacation" at some place resembling a health spa for many months. I suppose that's what you're talking about here. It's a very good idea for many people, but it's not always the best.

Probably the best thing that could happen for him would be if he could just get a job that he could be passionate about. Or, a new girlfriend to be passionate about. Or both. I know it's a tall order, but sometimes life throws us miracles when we need them the most.

If you (or he) really thinks that the "vacation rehab" is the best answer then I don't want to talk you out of it. Maybe you (or he) is 100% right, but there are other options, maybe.

One thing is for sure: you can start a methadone program for virtually no money. When I took it in the 1980's they charged me $2 per day for my dose, and it was absolutely free to sign-up to the program, even included a free AIDS/hep screening. I'm sure they charge a little more these days, but the point is, it's a nominal charge. But I have to add: methadone is not a cure for addiction (it just trades one addiction for another) but it can have multiple benefits. It's sort of like a stepping stone, the addict is better equipped to get a handle on his life when his addiction isn't costing 90% of his money and 90% of his time.

Another chemical method these days is suboxone (buprenepherine). Unlike methadone it creates no "high" for the addict so it is a method to eliminate the cravings without actually becoming addicted to a new drug. Quitting suboxone is very easy for almost everybody. The key to making it work is to really be willing to stop getting high. That's not an easy promise for an addict to make.

If any of this is new information for you I suggest you research it further so you know ever possible weapon you have in this fight. One he gets 100% off of opiates, and stays that way for a few months, the body will no longer have the opiates cravings, and the addict mostly forgets what it was that made them want them so dearly. At that point he needs something to fill the void, a "new hobby" so to speak.

[LW75]

To the best of my understanding (and if you live in the US), a substance abuse problem is considered a "disability" by the SSA's SSI program. Maybe it would be worth a call to your local Social Security Administration office to ask about your son's getting on SSI for a while and getting the help he needs from whatever insurance they have for people on SSI.

The reality is if he's hit "rock bottom" (and has the girlfriend's death to be dealing with as well) he has has "legitimate" mental health issues. He wouldn't have to make a career out of being on SSI. Maybe if he could just get on it long enough to get some help, get back on feet, etc., he could then re-build his normal life.