Prescription Addiction and Help to Stop

M.,

Have you talked to the people at the rehab about wanting to get treatment but there is no one to take care of your children? Could your husband take care of them while you were in treatment? What about your 15 year old? Couldn't he handle the older 2 during the day and have a daycare watch the baby?
I can tell you are reaching out for help and I want to help you find a solution. Do you go to church? If so, maybe someone there could help you. You must get help and he needs to also. What does your 15 year old say to you? He must know that neither of you are not sober. Once you get treatment, then he could go after you. I'll keep you in my prayers.
God bless, C.

Hi M.,

I am a recovering addict with 2 1/2 years sober. As hard as it may be to admit that you're an addict, chances are if you can't stop on your own, you probably are. The first step is admitting that you have a problem, which you've done. If you're taking more than 6 a day and have been for quite some time, you can't just stop. You will have major withdrawl and find yourself taking the pills again to get rid of that horrible feeling. I would suggest tapering off of the pills. If you can't go to rehab, you can go to an AA meeting. AA is not just for alcoholics. It's for anyone with an addiction that has the desire to stay sober. I went through 21 days of rehab, then 6 months in a halfway house. I couldn't quit on my own. I needed spiritual help and a 12-step recovery program. I have seen people walk in to an AA meeting and stay sober without rehab. It does require action, but there are so many people that are willing to help. I have been through what you're going through and will be happy to help in anyway that I can. My name is Jennifer and my number is ###-###-####. I can help you find a meeting or even meet you there if you would feel more comfortable. Right now you probably feel like you couldn't function without the pills, but trust me, once you get them out of your system and see that it is possible, you will feel like a brand new woman. If you're a woman of faith, the first thing I would recommend is to pray and ask God to help you stop. That's what I did...and He answered. I'm praying for you M. and I hope to hear from you soon.

My friend was addicted to pain pills and her doctor gave her medicine to take so that if she drinks or takes any pain pills she becomes violently ill. Although she has a major illness and truly needs pain pills, she did not like the way she was unable to be there for her children. My concern in reading your message is that you have Hep C and HIV, why are you continuing to have more kids? You have a really young one and it seems you are unhappy with your life, your husband does pills too, does he have HIV? Try to join a church, at least let your children go, stop being selfish, stop doing drugs and enjoy your life and your babies!

Thank you for reaching out for help, M.! My sister went through this after a work-related accident, and I strongly encourage you to tackle this with help---she lost her life and left a 4yr old child motherless because the meds stopped her heart. I have been raising that child for 12 1/2 years. If you are maintaining a household with 4 children, you may be able to participate in an outpatient program that works with your husband's schedule. Call The Center on Alcohol and Drugs Houston, Positive Adult Living in Houston, and Palmer Program to ask about their programs. For caring for your kids while you get clean, once you choose a program and have the schedule of classes, meetings, and counseling sessions you can begin to create on paper your childcare plan (Remember that at least 2 of your 3 oldest will be in school as of August 25th). Speak honestly with your husband and tell him the money that was going for your prescriptions will now be available to pay for childcare while you get clean, and use sittercity childcare people, call on church folk, locate a relative to come and stay for awhile, a friend, a neighbor---a patchwork of care if need be. Good luck.

Dear M.,
I applaud you for trying to get off the drugs and wanting to take care of your family! This is the first step to recovery and you have the desire. It is going to be a long hard road, but you CAN do it. Don't read the negative responses on the site and keep your eyes on the prize. Your children do need you! School will be starting soon, so the older ones will be gone and you can look into highschools that have childcare for your 4 year old (minimal money required) or possibly an elementary school in your area that has preschool for 4 year olds depending on monetary issues, English as a second language or some kind of a learning disability. If you fall under one of those categories you would qualify for preschool for your 4 year old. See if you can find a neighbor that you can trust with your "personal" issue and find out if they can watch your youngest or a family member. Stay strong and be encouraged that this is a good thing for you and your family! You will be surprised how wonderful your quality of life will become. It won't be easy at first, but as time passes so shall this too! What area do you live in? Email me personally and maybe I can find someone to help!!

____@____.com

Sincerely,
M. Ricketts
Mom to Brittany & Brianna (11) Charity (6) Luke & Trinity (3)

M.,

I commend you on taking this step. If you can keep looking at the positives going your way. I would think that alot of people don't have access to free rehab. I hope your able to utilize this given. Can your 15 year old help you? I hope he can but I understand if he is unable due your circumstances. Remember also when we give our kids important tasks they feel important enough to want to carry it out. Especially if we trust them enough to explain to them why we need them. Only you know if your 15 year old is capable of helping during this time. If there is no one to watch your kids you may be able to seek out a church, there are quite a few good churches that people will be willing to help you with your kids while you go to rehab. Be careful sometimes when we call out our excuses we make them the excuse that holds us back instead of treating it as an obstacle to work out. These aren't meant to be unkind words but words of incouragement so you will draw up your inner strength an work through your obstacles. Thank you for trusting us with your vulnerability and I truly hope you overcome this.
Remember where there is a will there is a way.