We've done this 3 times. It definitely can be done. Set some up front conditions, though. He can't have friends over and he can't leave the property. You don't want him to go back to using and have him at your home. Also set up your home so you don't have anything he could use there. No alcohol, Nyquil, or prescription medicines.

The first thing to do is to contact his physician and get a prescription for Clonidine. That's a high blood pressure medicine. Withdrawal causes the blood pressure to go up and causes discomfort. This is the one thing that has helped more than anything else. The cost is also very low. My son had to take more than the prescribed dosage.

Nausea is the next symptom to hit. The two best fixes for that are Pepto Bismol pills and ginger ale. I have generally bought the liquid nausea medicine, but he never needed it.

Some people also end up with diarrhea. Immodium AD works like a charm. (There are opiate receptors in the bowels that also go through withdrawal. Immodium AD is a form of opiate that takes care of the problem. It does not cross the barrier to the brain, so it's safe for an opiate addict to take.)

The worst problem is muscle aches. and twitches. Hot baths help the most. Hot showers also help, but not as much as baths. Over the counter pain relievers also help. I think we had the best success with Naproxen.

Withdrawal can also make sleep difficult. If he can sleep through the worst of it, then it's what will help the most. I have allowed non-addictive sleep medication, but I control the number of pills.

This is all do-able with over-the-counter medication plus Clonidine. He should be feeling very good in about 3 days.

When he's done with detox, he needs to immediately start treatment or he can easily relapse right away. He may still relapse when he's in treatment. Cravings are very powerful. If he's unable to stay clean with treatment, then the next step is to consider a Suboxone or methadone or Vivitrol program. You may even consider that right now if it's covered by Medicaid.

Have you tried to bring him to the hospital via the emergency room? keeping you in my prayers.

dmatt, thanks for the reminder about the emergency room.

Use caution with the emergency room. I took my son there one time to help with withdrawal symptoms. The doctor gave him a prescription for benzos, which are mind-altering and addicting. You can imagine what happened with that prescription. Of course, not every doctor would do that, but be careful.

The other option is a county detox facility. Our county has a contract with a place that handles detox. It's where they take all of the people that are arrested and too intoxicated to go to jail. The same place handles detox from opiates and other drugs before people go to in patient rehab.

Yes, I have considered the ER but only if the detox gets to be more than he or I can handle on our own. I feel guilty saying this but I hope that it does get bad and I can take him to the ER. At least that way hopefully the ER will refer him to a rehab facility for a while. The problem with him staying with me after detox is that I can't be with him 24/7 to keep the "vultures away" or keep him from seeking out drugs. And I know he will. I do realize that this is only the beginning of a long and painful road.

I will to pray for you both. I feel the need to remind you that an addict that does not want to get and stay clean will always fine a way. I am only saying this because I do not want you to think that if you stay with him or have someone stay with him you are going to save him from going back to using. I think its great that he wants to get clean now and he has a long road ahead that he must bein charge of. I read somewhere that if an addict wants to get clean he/she can do it in a drug house. When I read that it put it all in to perspective for me. I hope my post in some way helps.

Good luck and keeping postive that this will work. Praying for a positive outcome.

So far, so good with the home detox. I'm trying to make sure he's eating healthy and he has also started taking a multivitamin. He doesn't have much of an appetite and is extremely tired. I took him for his PO appointment today and they locked him up for prob. violation. I bonded him out because I felt like he was making progress at home. I knew that in jail they wouldn't help him. I just felt like it would be a step backward for him. Since he's been back with me, we've had some conversations, initiated by him, about his use and how he doesn't want to live like this anymore. We've also been on a couple of short walks around our neighborhood. Other than that, he's been in bed most of the time. He just looks exhausted. The next goal is to get him into some kind of treatment. He still thinks he can do this on his own but now that he knows he may possibly go to jail for his suspended sentence, he is talking about going to inpatient. I'm glad but I think he's doing it for the wrong reason....to stay out of jail. I hope and pray I've done the right thing.

I am grateful that for today he is sober and safe. I am grateful that he came through this detox safely. He should be very grateful that he is not doing his suffering in jail. I pray it sticks...but even if it does not, you have given his body and mind and soul some time to rest and heal.

Yes, I agree it can be done at home. There are great suggestions mentioned above. The only thing I might add is that if it becomes unmanageable at home, take him to the ER. They will treat his symptoms, and could potentially help with getting him in to a treatment center. Good luck!!! Tis phase isn't easy ;(
Serenity prayer and repeat......

I'm praying the detox is working out at home. My husband tried detoxing at home and I ended up taking him to the ER. There they monitored him until it was safe to send him home. But there was no real structure after detox to keep him from relapsing. Only after he went to a facility for a 5 day stay did he get the kick in the butt he needed to stay clean. I have found that outside influences such as dealers and using friends are the big reason many, including my husband, relapse. My husband will be the first to admit that peer pressure and knowing its available through a certain person is a big part of his relapse. even after he did a 90 day program at a facility he relapsed a year later because he started hanging out with the same people. Getting rid of those toxic relationships will be a great help in maintaining your sons progress, but he will be the one that will have to do that for himself. In the end it all comes down to what he chooses, as much as we want to make the choices for our loved ones. Good luck with this journey, it can be one that brings you two closer together. But it will be a long road for you both, make sure you are getting the emotional care you need as well.

Detox went well until I had to come back to work. I can't be sure he is clean. His withdrawal symptoms never got as bad as I expected. I can't watch him 24/7. He has no money, no job, no transportation, no motivation.....He is already sucking the life out of me again.