What Do You Do When Your Dad Is a Drug Addict?
Question by Mary Lee: What do you do when your Dad is a drug addict?
Okay, let me start by saying I am grown. I live in Texas and my dad lives in Florida. My dad became addicted to oxycodone and morphine approximately five years ago. He has overdosed before and my brother had to call the ambulance for him. My dad’s wife, who is not my mother, called the police on him last week because he became violent after she refused to give him any of her medicine. For years he has been taking medicine that is prescribed to her, as well as getting them off the streets. He got to a point about a year ago where he started seeing doctors and getting them on his own. He was being prescribed 100 pills a piece from three different doctors and still running out. The doctors stopped giving him the medicine, so he started stealing his wife’s. Anyway, after she cut him off last Friday, he went nuts and she ended up leaving. After she refused to come home, he started threatening to kill himself. He was placed in a psychiatric center for the weekend, but was released today. Because of his threats, she had a protective order filed against him today. We have been doing everything in our power to try to get him into a drug rehab, but he won’t go. He called me tonight and said he is going to the doctor Wednesday, and they are going to give him his pills again. He plans on selling them to get money. I want to get him help. I am considering tipping off the police to his plans to try to get him help. Is this a bad idea? I feel really bad about it, but don’t know what else to do. He won’t come live in Texas so I can help him, and he is just going to go back to being the same addict he’s been. I know he’s grown, but I’m trying to save his life, because that’s the point that we’re at. Thank you for your help…
Best answer:
Answer by Rachel
This is an extremely difficult situation you are dealing with. Unfortunately, our society has encouraged doctor shopping and opiate dependence with the popularity of pain clinics.
OxyContin is a strong narcotic that can also change your father’s mood and personality. Addicts will often remain in denial or stubborn about stopping use until there is an external consequence or they are self motivated to get help. Until then you may want to seek counseling or support groups such as Nar-anon. Both of these options will give you more information about how to handle your strong feelings related to your father’s addiction and also how his addiction is affecting you. His wife should also seek support for herself.
I don’t have a legal background so I am not sure how the police may respond to you giving them the information. They may not be able to do anything unless they catch him in the act of distribution.
Lean on the people around you for support.
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