I am a parent to a 27 yr. old opiate addict. He decided a month ago he wanted to get his life back and get clean. He has gone to a substances abuse doctor and got on a program of decreasing amounts of suboxone, then going through a 10 day detox, and finally taking vivitrol shots for 6 to 12 months. Along with this he is supposed to go to some type of group therapy. He came home to detox and we are following all the instructions the doctor gave us which includes giving him clonidine, klonopin, and OTC drugs like Advil, benadryl and imodiumn. Problem is we are at day 4 and he is totally lethargic, not eating or drinking much and he now wants to throw in the towel. Nothing I say to him seems to make sense to him right now. Before he started the detox he seemed to have his mind on straight and wanted to do this. Now that he is doing it it seems he doesn't have the fortitude to carry through. III had heard that at day 4 or 5 things start to get a little better. just does not seem to be for him. Any advice?
I am an addict named Mike.I am also the parent of a 27 year old son who spent 7 years living with hardcore heroin abuse..He is now in his fourth year of recovery working his process. I found Nar-Anon(of which I am a member of) very helpful to reinstill the idea that I didn't cause it,I couldn't control it and certainly couldn't cure it(new this from my own 25 years of active addiction)I learned to "detach with love' a very difficult but life saving tool.I have sat with parents and relatives and friends of addicts who were every bit as ill as there loved ones because of their interactions..WE suggest making meetings,learning that putting the substance down is the beginning of the healing but addiction is a physical,mental and spiritual illness that manifests itself in all areas of our lives.Meetings help us to identify with the disease and learn the tools that help us remain free from active addiction a day at a time...I truly can identify with your situation and will lift you up in support and prayer..
Naranon.org for info and meetings near you......na.org for info for your son and meetings near him...........Peace and serenity in God's(of your understandings)grace..
-- Edited by MIKEF on Thursday 13th of June 2013 10:30:54 AM
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
Did you call the doctor and tell him what's gonig on? Unfortunately there is no easy way to detox from drug abuse. Going to a facility is often what works best for people, but others just go "cold turkey" and that has worked for them. I think the suggestion about you going to al anon or nar anon is excellent. You need support. As for your son, there is no better place for him right now than a narcotics anonymous meeting Go to na.org and follow the links for 'find a meeting' always best to call the area helpline to make sure the meeting is still active. Best wishes to you both.
The first days and weeks are the hardest , his body wants those drugs .Detoxing can be very have a lot of pain involved .Mentally you want to give up .He cannot give up , he needs to use his strength and make it through the first part of the detox.After that he should go to NA meetings because they do help.He may meet someone who has gone through the same thing.I hope and wish him good luck at quitting.