I nearly died myself from a drug overdose about 15 years ago. After spending 3 days in the hospital and with all the pain I was in, you would think that would make me get sober but it didn't. I continued to use drug for another year and when I couldn't find any more pills, I started drinking.

What made me finally get help was when I lost my job, had no money, no friends and my wife filed for divorce. When she kicked me out of my own home, I didn't leave. Long story short, the police were involved and I ended up in detox for 4 days.

I had nothing and I had hit my low. I couldn't go any lower then I was. This time, I finally realized I had messed up my life and taken my family with me down into the hell hole I was in. This time I was ready to do everything it took to get sober and to stay sober. So I did everything my counselors told me to do. I went through outpatient treatment followed by 3 months of more group counseling, followed by AA meetings.

Now I have a great life and I look back at the rough times I went through and I realize, I needed to go through that hell to motivate me to turn my life around. I needed that hell to make me change direction and look for that God within me that I had neglected for so long. I finally found Him!

In my opinion, Life is a great teacher. It motivated me to seek help and I did.

You see what your son's addictions are doing to him but look at what his addictions are doing to YOU! You need alot of support for yourself and I don't think you can get enough of it online but alanon and nar anon are great resources to turn to when you have questions and anxiety concerning the drama in your son's life. I highly recommend them. They may have online meetings if face to face ones are not yet available. Just reading their literature is a great help.

Keep us posted and In the meantime, we will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.

God Bless

Glad to hear of your recovery! You would think he'd hit rock bottom with OD, Robbery, Jail, Homeless and no money (which I admit I helped by buying food for him), but it's not his rock bottom still. Thank you for sharing, encouraging and recommending the other groups. I have looked into them, but never acted. Thank you for any prayers because that is the only thing that is going to save him and that is to turn his heart back towards God, his Lord & Savior, and for him to lose the desires for drugs and alcohol. Stay well during this crazy days.

I had actually been through detox twice. The first time, they set up outpatient treatment for when I left detox but I never went. ...I hadn't really hit my low because my wife was still enabling me, but a year later, after she filed for divorce, that was my bottom. I probably wouldn't be here now had she not done that.

Now, my wife who is my ex wife are very good friends. We look back at the past on occasion and we laugh at some of the things that happened. I am told at AA meetings that the ability to laugh at yourself shows a high level of maturity in the healing process.

When I learned to let go of the resentments was when things changed in my life and miracles began to happen all around me. I got a new job which I really liked, I had money coming from places I never expected, and my relationships improved. It was like God was manipulating the pieces of the puzzle of my life and placing them exactly where they needed to go, and at the right time! There were too many things that happened to be able to call coincidence. I hear stories like this at AA meetings quite often, so for me, renewing my Faith was important to my recovery.

Yes! Some people have a lower low then others. You would be surprised.

Try to focus on the positive because the mind is very powerful.

We will keep you and your family in our thoughts and prayers.

God Bless

I understand how you are feeling. Previous to the issues with my daughter now, she was a raging meth user. I suffered physical abuse, mental abuse, and damage to my property until she finally went to rehab. I was introduced to Al-Anon and resentful that I would even have to attend any meeting as I was not the problem. I had no idea how sick I really was because of my daughter's illness. I am still sick. I constantly try to control her every move because I am so afraid she will use again or that some one she hangs out with will damage my house again. The one thing I realize now is I too am sick of it and can longer sustain the constant drama. All of us have to care for ourselves. It is important for you to focus on yourself as stress causes a host of other diseases. I recommend Al-Anon though it is not for everyone, I also have started the process of individual therapy and I set boundaries. I am glad you are here with us- prayers for you and your son.

Thank you HarleyAnn. I agree stress causes illness, which I am dealing with. My doctors and counselors have told me the same thing you and bobinmaine have shared. It's so hard as a mom to think you can't change their minds to stop, but I know it is not in my control. I pray things are well for you and thank you for your prayers. Today is a new day and all I am promised and I am putting my focus on trusting God and healing me! Praying for you. Stay well in these covid days.

I'm so sorry about your son. My son was addicted to heroin, benzos and alcohol, but also abused every drug he could get his hands on. I don't know why he's alive. I tried everything I could, but nothing worked. I did get him into rehab when he was 17, but that was because it was that or leave home. He was back on the drugs the day after he finished. A few years later we got him into a Suboxone program, but he continued using other drugs. He gave up the other drugs, but continued drinking and smoking weed. Now he admits that until last year he was injecting Suboxone, all while telling me that he was sober except for a little wine and weed.

Now, he is 27 and is having some real health problems that are likely related to his drinking and drug history. He has had no choice other than to quit all drugs and alcohol. Now he has regrets, but he had to come to that realization on his own. Lord knows I tried.

The best you can do is to take care of yourself and come to accept your situation. I went to Al-Anon, but never found a group that really helped me. Others swear by it. I think what really helped me is the book Don't Let Your Kids Kill You. I read it three times, at least. Boundaries also was a very good book.

You may be able to get him help if he is threatening suicide again. You or his friends can take him to the ER or call the police. The suicide threat can get him a psychiatric hold at a hospital. Also feel free to call the police if he gets out of line. The legal system can lead him to treatment.

Best of luck to you.