I have a cousin who's a junkie

[CFLDem]

Heroin's got its claws in her real deep.

She's been in and out of jail so much, she thinks it's nothing but a big party.

She lies, she steals, she makes everyone around her miserable.

Support groups, half-way houses, therapy- nothing gets to her. Not even the stress that hastened her father's succumbing to cancer.

Yesterday she got caught drunk driving with her unbuckled baby in the back seat.

I hope they lock her up for good, she gets the help she needs, or she finally kicks the bucket (to put it politely).

I hope her kid never knows who she is; he deserves much more than that.

But most relevantly to this board, I think my cousin is just one example of our failed drug policy. Maybe she could have been helped had she grown up in a nation that actually cares.

Too damn bad it's all moot at this point- just another junkie that fell through the cracks...

😒

[pipoman]

1. Thank Raygun

For defunding mental health services.

Mental health and addiction services should be available to anyone who needs them. ..

[In_The_Wind]

2. I'm sorry that she hasn't found the right help thus far.

After watching my friends go through this with a family member I know how devastating this is for you and your entire family.

[bunnies]

3. We have 2 (used to be) friends in that exact position.

Both are in jail now. Again. But they go right back to it every time. It sucks.

[giftedgirl77]

4. My sister died of an overdose in 2009.

She was always responsible & took care of her kids, had a job with the school district. But every night it was booze & pills. My son who was 6 at the time & my 10 yr old niece watched paramedics try to recesitate her.

I didn't make it home from Iraq before my mom took her off life support. She was 28, 3 kids (10, 4, 1). Gone.

[wall_dish]

7. I am so sorry for the loss of your sister.

It had to be horrible for your nephews and nieces to watch the paramedics try to resusitate their mother.

I too lost my younger brother to drugs while I was serving my 2nd tour in Vietnam, he got involved in the anti-war movement and fell in with the wrong crowd and died of a heroin overdose.

[Skittles]

14. so sorry giftedgal

I know the pain of losing a sibling to addiction

[Lochloosa]

5. My son is addicted to Crack. It takes 6 hours to get booked but 6 months to get into rehab.

If you can get into a rehab program. There is something very wrong with this.

Private rehab starts...starts at 10K. That is way beyond my reach.

It is such a shame that the only way for addicts to get help is for them to get arrested first.

I feel your pain and frustration with her. It is a struggle.

On Edit: I just realized that is the first time in 10 years i have ever told anyone other than my immediate family about the struggles with my son. Addiction is so painful.

[flamingdem]

6. Thanks for sharing your story, I had no idea

that it's so hard for addicts to get help. My best to you.

[Lochloosa]

8. Thanks. It was an eye opener for me also.

The only help comes from religious based rehab programs. Then it's 24 hr indoctrination.

My son has been to three so far and, being an atheist, the longest he's lasted is 10 days.

If we spent 1/10th on rehab vs. enforcement in this country we would not have a drug issue.

[CFLDem]

10. Amen!

[CFLDem]

11. Thank you for sharing.

For me, I just had to get it out so the anger didn't fester.

It's just such a shame our society makes a habit of throwing people away.

[Skittles]

15. we should be funding more rehab and less war

THAT would be tax dollars well spent

My sympathy to you, Lochloosa and I hope the best for you and your son

[Lochloosa]

16. Thanks. It's been a struggle but for some reason I think he is going to pull through.

[Marr]

9. I have a brother who is exactly the same way.

He's been like that since he was a teenager, and he's in his mid-thirties now.

He'll steal anything that isn't nailed down-- even broke into our mom's house a couple of years ago and stole her jewelry. Panhandles when he needs quick cash and considers everyone just a mark to be used. Starts fist fights with strangers, has been in and out of jail more times than I can count, and destroys everything he touches.

My mom let him live in her guest house (converted garage) for awhile, hoping he'd clean up, but of course he didn't-- and she found that he'd taken a sledge hammer to the toilet and sink one day for no reason whatsoever. I assume he just decided he was done staying there, so he might as well break some shit.

It really does reach a point where you almost wish they'd just overdose and be done with it, which in itself makes you feel like shit. I know just what you mean.