Hello Bump,
I have been reading your story on the Theresa thread.
Such a terrible time your family are having.
I too have a son who is an addict. I’ve been where you are now. Maybe a couple of years further down the line. My son and I were on our own. No husband, father or siblings. Just the two of us. This possibly makes the situation even more difficult. Less support for either of us within a family unit. All I have is my mum. It’s difficult for her too.
From my own experience I know when my son hit the – run out of options and no place to go – stage, he was taken in by other random addicts. There is a sort of code amongst the homeless addicts. Nowadays he sleeps sometimes in a car pack in town ( he does this when he receives his social money and doesn’t want to put it in the pot and share so to speak ) after a couple of days he begins his quest of getting back indoors by sleeping in drug dens. The only accommodation offered to him by the social services is a hostel in the city centre. My son prefers to sleep outside than go there. It’s a harsh life.
I have tried everything to prevent the downward spiral, but still it continues.
When the pandemic first began in March, all of the street homeless were put into B&B accommodation. Every homeless person off the streets in one swoop overnight. The government funded this for three or four months. The police heavily monitored the streets and the dealers found it difficult to sell their wares. So, during this time in lockdown it proved difficult for the addicts to access the class A hard drugs on the street level. The beginning of lockdown proved to be the happiest of times for me in, oh years, but it was short lived.
I would go into town to meet with my son, and he would be clean, smiling and happy. Such a change from the shell I Am used to. Grey, gaunt, pin eyed, begging outside Tesco express. Week after week I saw the improvement. It truly was a miracle. Then in August or there about, the restrictions were lifted, the dealers got there claws back in, and the addicts were thrown back onto the street. Glasgow is once again overdose city. Injectors are at their most vulnerable after abstaining for a while. Their system can’t cope when they start using again. My son has overdosed and been admitted to hospital for overdose three times in the last month alone. He has also been admitted for emergency surgery. Even after surgery the only option offered was a hostel for the night and a script for subutex.
Excuse my ramblings. This probably isn’t helping. I’m not sure which drugs your son is using. If he is not injecting then there is plenty hope. My advise would be. Do not give him money. If he is aggressive or has been in the past. Do not let him into your house. Also, you are correct about rehab, unfortunately you can’t make them go. They have to be willing. I did manage to set up a rehab facility with help from my GP and a charitable organisation. He didn’t turn up on the day and lost his place. It took so much time work and pleading on my part to set this up and after the failure, I haven’t ever reached a level of having enough energy to fight for private rehab again. The rehab offered by social services is impossible to acquire. Totally unrealistic for my son with his lifestyle to achieve a place.
Once your son understands you are serious, maybe he will hit his own personal rock bottom. Then he will come looking for help. You will know when he is ready.
There are so many of us going through this with our loved ones. I feel your pain.
Hope you don’t mind me hijacking your post!
All the best
Ivy x