Prescription and Synthetic Drug Abuse Support Group
If you or a loved one is struggling with presciption drug abuse, this is the community to discuss your experience, find support, and meet others going through a similar fight. You don't have to struggle with addiction alone. Ask a question, give advice, share your story, and get hope for recovery here.
How does one behave when they first start experimenting with prescription pills? Generally does it make them pleasant to be around?
Background: My 20 year old son is smoking pot and drinking (no concrete evidence but he is honest about it and says he does). I have an 18 year old son in recovery from chemical substances and is doing well. I don't like the fact that my younger son is exposed to this behavior and I talked to our older one about it.
Anyway, my 20 year old son had had some friends over a few weeks ago (all of legal drinking age) and were drinking when I walked in the door. That in itself wasn't alarming (they didn't appear to be intoxicated) but they quickly got up and went outside - as if they were hiding something. The next day I found a small mirror by the back door and earlier found it in the basement where my son spends some time. Well, because of my younger one I am hypersensitive to drug behavior - even though my 20 year old son's behavior (the way he relates and responds has been pleasant) I felt something wasn't right so I checked his text messaging (he doesn't pay the cell phone bills) and sure enough I saw prescription drug talk. Most of it was asking him for some Vicodin and Adderall.
My husband and I decided that in order for us to pay his college tuition (he attends locally) he would have to agree to random drug tests and would need to see a drug counselor for an assessment. He had a MAJOR fit and refused and said that I was crazy and that he doesn't have a problem. He claims he exchanges other drugs so that he can get his pot for free. He says he likes pot.
Is it possible for someone to use prescription drugs and appear to be fine for quite some time? My son seems happy most of the time. Am I crazy?
Note: I've had some talks with him, even played a video clip from a newscast I found on-line about the dangers of prescription drugs so that he could overhear it and he still minimizes it. The film was from a newscast addressing teen addiction and the deaths of two young women. He told me that that was because these girls took too many and inferred that he wouldn't take that amount. I told him it starts somewhere.....
Just wondering......
Background: My 20 year old son is smoking pot and drinking (no concrete evidence but he is honest about it and says he does). I have an 18 year old son in recovery from chemical substances and is doing well. I don't like the fact that my younger son is exposed to this behavior and I talked to our older one about it.
Anyway, my 20 year old son had had some friends over a few weeks ago (all of legal drinking age) and were drinking when I walked in the door. That in itself wasn't alarming (they didn't appear to be intoxicated) but they quickly got up and went outside - as if they were hiding something. The next day I found a small mirror by the back door and earlier found it in the basement where my son spends some time. Well, because of my younger one I am hypersensitive to drug behavior - even though my 20 year old son's behavior (the way he relates and responds has been pleasant) I felt something wasn't right so I checked his text messaging (he doesn't pay the cell phone bills) and sure enough I saw prescription drug talk. Most of it was asking him for some Vicodin and Adderall.
My husband and I decided that in order for us to pay his college tuition (he attends locally) he would have to agree to random drug tests and would need to see a drug counselor for an assessment. He had a MAJOR fit and refused and said that I was crazy and that he doesn't have a problem. He claims he exchanges other drugs so that he can get his pot for free. He says he likes pot.
Is it possible for someone to use prescription drugs and appear to be fine for quite some time? My son seems happy most of the time. Am I crazy?
Note: I've had some talks with him, even played a video clip from a newscast I found on-line about the dangers of prescription drugs so that he could overhear it and he still minimizes it. The film was from a newscast addressing teen addiction and the deaths of two young women. He told me that that was because these girls took too many and inferred that he wouldn't take that amount. I told him it starts somewhere.....
Just wondering......
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check out that smoke ring. It tasted really good. I smothered it with Maulls BBQ sauce which is Local to St. Louis and one of the best I ever had.....
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I was recently separated from my wife of 33 years and it's complicated. Anyway I rented a room about 15 minutes away and I see my kids about once a week. I see the people who own the house I live in once in a while but other than that I stay in my room where I do my cooking, wash dishes in the shower, read, color, and sleep. I get out at least once a day. I grocery shop and I attend 2 meetings...
Did you start because of a medical reason? How old were you when you started? How did you manage to obtain them and was it very expensive? My son has no money. He told me that he made the prescription drug exchanges for others so that he could get the pot he says he likes to smoke every other day. Last night he came home in a pretty good mood. I swore I smelled alcohol on his breath. I know it's dangerous to mix pills and alcohol so maybe he's not taking the pills?
Even though he said he's "earning" the pot by making connections for others, why is it I found the mirror in a few places? Makes me think otherwise.
Another question: After four months - what started happening?
What you asked him to do with the random drug testing to get his college tuition paid for, was completely reasonable and his outburst would tip me off to a potential problem.
You may want to mention that possession of vicodin without a prescription is illegal and trading it for pot is also illegal.
If I were in your shoes, I would confront him about the drug messages in his phone, which you have every right to do since you pay the bill.
I have lost friends and co workers who never believed they had a problem to begin with and when it happens, there seems to be plenty of guilt between family members and friends.
I nearly died myself but God wanted to keep me going for some reason, maybe to write this post, I don't know but it may help you to go to Al-anon which I highly recommend. You will find people there just like you who have son's and daughters who are addicted to alcohol or drugs.
You and your son will be in my thoughts and prayers.
God Bless and TC
I am concerned about some of his friends. The ones who've been asking for them. One friend was desperate. I can't get that out of my mind. I think I might know who it is. If it is that one particular friend, he may still be a juvenile. I know that he's had problems in the past.
The pills are very easy to get -- a lot of kids are getting them from unlocked medicine cabinets. A friend on this forum even told me that even some elderly people are selling their prescriptions to supplement their incomes! Taking pills with alcohol increases the effects and can lead to respiratory distress and overdose. Snorting is the way that many people taking them now. If they share a straw they increase the chances of getting Hepatitis C.
I also used to teach in a classroom when I was high. I became very gregarious and social. Then as the pills wore off I would become very angry and very irritable.
Besides the mood swings and eyes---watch your son for signs of itching and complaints of headaches and digestive issues.
You sound like a great Mom!
Good luck and keep us posted!
test him and follow thru with what you said.
please, it could be life and death. choose life for your kids sake. dont be a friend, be a parent.
you are Loved
Brother Frankie
A Biker for Christ
Right now he is doing very well, as far as I can tell. His eyes appear clear, he isn't moody what-so-ever, and he's been working hard in school and reffing soccer. Perhaps he was the middle man.
Being the middle man, that in itself, bothers me because if it isn't him that is using - some of his friends are. I already talked to two moms and already have plans to approach another. I cannot remain silent.
I also talked to a drug counselor (whose son is back in prison for the 4th time) and even he said there is no right or wrong answer. My husband and I both wanted to follow through on this and cut off funds for college if he didn't meet our commands. The counselor said "What if you do that because he doesn't cooperate?" Now you have a kid who isn't in school and nothing to do. Our son is EXTREMELY STUBBORN!!!!
If I had more indicators I would definitely draw the line. So I'm keeping a close watch and will also continue to monitor.
I know the severity of this situation. I am actually, ironically, created a drug awareness program to present to our community middle school parents. Strangely enough (before I discovered his connections), I had asked my son what he knows about the prescription drugs and he told me A LOT. He included, however, the dangers of them and couldn't understand how people could abuse them. Either he was candid with me to throw me off OR he was the supplier and couldn't understand why the people he knew used them.
But thank you! I read and take to heart everything anyone on here has to say. I value everyone's advise and am grateful for the help.
Let me tell you that I took vicodin, percocet and oxy constantly the past few months and I could barely function without it. With it, I was able to act and function like a regular person. NO ONE would know that I was even on it. It takes away all of the aches and pains and gives you energy to get everything done you need to during the day. Without it, you are cranky, achy, sore, and feel the effects of withdrawals, which for me included sweats, diarrhea, vomitting, no appetite, weight loss, etc.
The pills are easy to get. When someone goes to the doctor for their regular prescription, they may keep some for themselves and sell off the rest. Your son may have started out buying a little bit from someone and then reselling them at a higher cost actually making some money for the marijuana.
I really wish your son would realize the dangers from prescription pills if he is indeed taking them himself. My husband's friend, who takes many more pills than I ever did, actually went to the emergency room a few weeks ago because he was jaundice and feeling terrible. We found out that he was in liver failure from all of the tylenol that is in the vicodin. He could have died, but they caught it in time to begin to reverse some of the effects, but the damage is permanent.
Listen, I'm no angel, but I can definitely say that I would prefer my child smoking marijuana to taking pills. I am a mother of 4 children myself. My oldest daughter, who is 20 and in college, came to me a couple of months ago (we're very close) and told me she tried to pot for the first time. I asked her about it and she said that honestly it didn't do anything for her and she probably wouldn't do it again. I was happy with her that she felt close enough to me to share her experience and the biggest thing I did was not lecture her. I did remind her that it is illegal and left it alone.
As parents, we just want our children to do well, make good choices and we worry about them! I understand your concerns. I really do. Good luck with everything!