Families & Friends Of Addicts Support Group

Addiction affects more than just the individual. This community is dedicated to the families and friends of individuals suffering from any form of addiction. Mental health professionals are increasingly considering alcoholism and addiction as diseases that flourish in and are enabled by family systems. Family members react to the addicted person with particular behavioral...

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happywannab
happywannab
To make a long story as short as possible. My love is a 43 year old man. He has been through crack, drinking and finally oxys. He ended up in the hospital twice after quiting the pills. He has been off of crack for two years, doesn't drink a drop and after the last withdrawl bout from the pills, seemed to be living clean and healthy. Between the two of us we have 6 kids ages 10 to 22 and a 4 yr old granddaughter. We are raising the 4 youngest together. He sore he was "done" with all of it and has appeared to be doing well, going to church, got a new joob he loves, etc... I have been through so much with him, I know him well. I felt like he started using pills agian a couple of months ago. He finally came clean (had to,I found text messages that confirmed it) this weekend. He now is telling me, he started just taking one every now and then to get energy and work better not thinking he would have to go through the "awful sickness again". He said before he knew it he was getting sick so he got another pill and so on. He now tells me he has gotten some pill (go figure) that starts with an "S" that doesn't get you high but helps keep you from getting "sick" as you withdraw from the oxys? Addicts lie, as we all know. He swears he wants to be clean and sober but he wants to take these pills to avoid the sickness. He says he only has six pills and starting tomorrow he is going to take one a day and then he should be fine. I don't know an oxy from asprin! Has anyone heard of such a thing, or is it a lie so that I don't freak over him taking pills? Since I found out he went back to them, I have been seriously considering giving up and moving on. We have only been living together 3 years and I don't know how much more I am supposed to or can endure! Please tell me if I am being "played again" Thank you for listening. I was married to a drunk for 20 years. I understand I can't fix him only he can but I don't know what to believe. He did get off crack and put the booze down never to go back. I thinks he wants to be clean for me and the kids but... Who knows??? I don't!
RYSH1
RYSH1
if you can get a look at the pills there are several online pill identifiers. I have seldom heard of 6 pills being prescribed for this kind of situation...so odds are even if he is taking it for the reason he says ...he is still self medicating and odds are it is just a substitute.
I think your instincts are right and at the very least you need to watch closely.
RYSH1
RYSH1
if what he was referring to was SUBOXONE ,it can be used to treat opiate dependance...but of course isnt available over the counter...needs to be prescribed by a doctor...and used improperly can be as addictive as the oxycontin.
donna7455
donna7455
I agree he is likely talking about Suboxone. When my son was in detox coming down off of opiates, the detox center gave him Suboxone. It should only be given under a doctor's care because there is some potential for abuse, it is addictive, and it can be fatal when mixed with other drugs or alcohol.

Here's an article that tells a little bit about it and includes a picture of the pills.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/42366057.html
happywannab
happywannab
I looked at the pic of the pills. Suboxone is correct, but he only has six. So like you said I am sure he got them "on his own". He says he hasn't taken any yet. He just has them in the case he can't fight through the sickness on his own. I think he thinks he can pop one like a Tums for a tummy ache! I told him I did research (with all of your help) and that Suboxone is dangerous and nothing to play with. I asked him to please just suffer through it, AGAIN! I think the sickness he has to go through should be a reminder to not start again! This is the third time! I told him it is his last strike. If it happens again, I'm out for sure. I mean that. I had my own issues years ago with drugs. I made the decission I wanted a life without them and I have stuck to it for 18 years. I am not even tempted. I don't understand how some can make the decission to quit and stick with it and others continue to fall back into it, over and over! We have a good thing together for our kids, it is a shame he continues to try to ruin it. I made it clear I am not asking him to stop. His choice. I only control me and my children and I will not stay if he chosses to continue. I pray for his sake and his kids that he makes the right choice. It is just so hard to live and love someone you can not trust! It may be better if I just love him from afar and get on with my life. I am afraid my stability just enables him to try to walk both sides of the fence! Maybe my leaving would be best for all involved. I'm not making any snap decisions. One day at a time but I have one foot out of the door already. It wouldn't take a lot to put both feet out at this point!
katrinka
katrinka
You fall into the group who quit when they are younger, they realize they want more in life and stop using drugs. You wanted more in life then a feeling.
For chronic addicts like your BF its not that simple, he starts thinking he can use this pill and heck its only one time. Except its not and eventually he could end up back where he started. Chronic addicts relapse over and over. They have times of using and clean times. The clean times can be years and then relapse and have to hopefully pick themselves up again.
As far as remembering the pain of withdrawal. Our brain has a way of forgetting pain, if it didn't most of us would never have another baby after the first one.