[squigglysquirrel]

Hi all, my brother is now 35 and has been smoking pot since he was 17. He is a very heavy user, smoking about an ounce a week, he tells us he’s not doing anything heavier. So, over the last few years he’s rapidly deteriorating. He was diagnosed with psychosis and depression but all services said till he stops the weed, they’ll not help. He’s isolated himself from us. I managed to see him yesterday for the first time in a very long time and it broke my heart. He got burgled recently and has said he wants to stop smoking and realises he desperately needs help. Which is fantastic. I went yesterday and managed to get him to a gp whose only advice was, stop smoking! As if it’s that easy! I’ve called mental health and the local council access team. They basically said till he tried to commit suicide or stops smoking, they won’t help. Despite him saying he’s suicidal. We spoke to a drug charity who say it’s up to 21 days for a referral. I’m so worried in the mean time he’s going to withdraw consent and smoke again.
hes in such a mess it’s so sad to see that he wants to get better there’s just no support right now. Just wondering if anyone has any advice how we can further support him or any positive stories. I just want my little  brother back. Thank you

[m]

Everytime I try to reply my message is showing as not been submitted

[m]

have a read about valerian root for cannabis withdrawal also u can go to see a herbalist who will tailor doses to him

look up Narcotics anonymous meetings near him or call them for advice, u could maybe attend a few with him for support

calk drug service and tell them he’s suicidal, they may put him higher up list, make sure he stays on the list anyway as it’s only a few weeks and they will give good advice and support and have counsellors there

maybe see if he would stay with family for a while if it’s feasible

good luck I really feel for you all.

 

[m]

You can also look up a clinic that offers marajuana detox, it’s pricey but If you can afford may be worth it.

[Bubbles24]

Hi there squiggly squirrel,

So sorry to hear about your situation and your brothers struggles. It’s really shit that it’s so difficult to get help as an addict. My partner tried to commit suicide a few months ago, was addicted to opiates and when we went to the gp they literally said ‘what do you want from me’ and they wouldn’t refer him to the mental health team for an assessment until he was clean. Trouble is, addiction stems from mental health issues, if they aren’t addressed then it’s so difficult to come out of addiction and start a recovery journey, it’s an endless cycle. We found out the details for a local drugs and alcohol charity and, because of the severity of the situation, they saw him a week after the self referral. Charities also have wait lists though and he was advised it could take up to 6 months to get on a methadone programme with them. He’s since decided to go cold turkey and that worked out okay for him (not pleasant but the painful withdrawals didn’t last too long) and now has bi weekly appointments to help with the recovery. As he’s now clean he’s been referred for a mental health assessment so the balls rolling with that.
<p style=”text-align: left;”>I would have thought that as your brother has been diagnosed with mental health issues, he’d be given the right support with the NHS. Have you tried to contact the charity Mind? I’d advise reaching out to them in the meantime and like M said, let the charity know that he’s suicidal and hopefully that will escalate the support from them. It would also be worth finding out who he or you can call in your council area for crisis support.</p>
I know it feels like a kick in the teeth for him to finally reach out for support and get refused it. Especially if he suffer from depression and psychosis, this situation won’t help. If you or he can afford a session or 2, have a look on councilling-directory for a suitable therapist for a couple of sessions while you wait for support from the charity. He needs a professional to show him some empathy, and support which he’s not getting at the moment from the NHS.

I do just want to add, I appreciate our NHS and what they do, but unfortunately our gov has underfunded the f out of it and especially our mental health services to the point that charities have to pick up the pieces and there’s more people that need help than people that are available to help them at the moment.

I hope there’s something helpful in my comment, even just reading you’re not alone in this helps, I know it helped me when I first posted several weeks ago. Your brother needs to know that he’s not alone either, does your local drug service have any online forums or anything so he can speak to others going through the same thing?

I really hope he gets the professional support he needs soon, he’s lucky to have you. Stay strong and best of luck with everything.

[MarkTwels]

Recently, he expressed his desire to quit and get the help he needs, which is fantastic news! I went with him to see a GP, but the advice was just to stop smoking, as if it’s that simple. It’s tough for him, and I worry that the lack of support could make him go back to smoking.

[Anonymous]

It’s impressive that your brother wants to make a change. Encourage small steps and let him know he’s not alone.

[alaferguson]

It’s been a while since your post, but I’d like to add some information. It can be super tough seeing someone you care about go heavy on cannabis. One thing you might consider is talking to your brother about trying out legal thc gummies instead. They can be a lot less intense than smoking and might help him control his usage better.

Plus, gummies have regulated doses, so it’s easier to manage how much he’s taking. You could also suggest he sets some limits for himself. Maybe start with specific times or days he uses cannabis, so it’s not an all-day, everyday thing. Encouraging him to explore other hobbies or activities could help too. Sometimes people just need a nudge to find a new interest or passion that doesn’t involve cannabis.

And don’t forget to be supportive and understanding. It’s important he feels he can talk to you without judgment. Sometimes people just need to know someone cares and is willing to listen.

[Author]

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