How important is family support for a recovering addict?  Is it really helpful even after the family has been torn apart?
124259
it is the most important part of healing,and yes even after the family has been torn,now is the time to make that family whole and let this person know that the whole family has got their back!
174796
you should not believe him. i am a recovering addict, and i don't believe in using occasionally. it doesn't work that way. before long your bills and every thing will be behind. it is an expensive habit. i don't want to tell you to just leave your husband because that will make it worse for him. when my husband found out i was using he did tell me that if i didn't stop he would leave me and take my daughter. him and some of my other family has got me into Church and i have given my life to the lord. pray about it, God leaves no prayer unanswered. but we have to remember he doesn't answer them right when we want he answers them when it is the right time. now im not telling you to stay with him if he continues to use either. really open your heart to God and pray and he will put the answer in your heart what you should do.good luck and GOD BLESS YOU!!! if you need anyone to talk to you can email me or IM ME. MY im name is tootsjrfan.
307921
If you think you're doing well with your aunt, then stay with her. Make decisions that will benefit and help you. As for your brothers in Michigan, there's alway email, snail mail or telephone to contact them and still have some sort of communication. I know that your Mom and Dad doing drugs is not a good thing not only for them but for you as well, so why not talk to them. Encourage them to have a better life free from drugs. Be an influence to your family by doing the right things. I know you can do it. Just handle the situation with an open mind and heart.
636718
It sounds like you are better off without your family. I agree with one who suggested counseling. It is usually a good and helpful experience. Also, it is very lonely not to have a family. I always made family out of my friends. Having close friends can feel the same as being with your family.  Do you have any extended family(aunts, uncles, cousins) that would help you feel connected and loved? If you think there's any way I can help, feel free to contact me. :^)
230800
alanon is for the family members of alcoholics.  they could help you.  but i believe there is also a group called narcanon for family members of drug addicts.  \n\ni would imagine they'd be exactly what you need.  search on the net to find either one in your area.
592759
Let me ask you this, are you going to local college? Can you get a dorm? Alot of schools have programs w/ $$ assistance where you can get a dorm room too. I would def. look into removing yourself from the sittuation b/c then you could be better able to help them clean up their lives. If they are supporting you $$ you may need to gather up some family and friends and do some type of intervention. Know that thay will resent you for a while, but I'm sure the drugs&drinking are contributing to how they treat you. There are some great family couselors out there and many progs. to which your family would benefit. Things will prob. get worse b/f they get better, but hang in there.
207305
OK you say he is a recovering addict, How long? Dose he ask for money? How did he get clean? Please Email me with more details as I've been clean for 3 years and i think i could help. I started at 14 until i was 20. You can contact me if you have a look at my profile
554685
My parents got divorced and it was the best thing they could have done for us. I also am divorced and have two children. Their father and I co-parent very successfully because we got out of it before we turned hateful. I knew that it was enough when he would come home and I felt like my day just got shot down the tubes. Life is too short to be with someone who is not right for you. Try to discuss it when he is sober. Try counseling for yourself as an individual first, then suggest it for family therapy. If that does not work, then at least you tried and you know that you are doing the right thing.  It is a difficult decision, but just try to think if this is the man who you want to be with for every day of the rest of yoiur life. There may be someone else better suited for each of you and you will not be able to pursue that until you straighten out things for yourself first. Good luck with this sweetie, I know it is hard, but you can do it !
97377
well you being there helps, but if you can no longer take it you may just have to leave and he might straighten up. I had to attend NA after I was arrested for meth possession. When I started attending I was clean for 3 months already. So the program did not do anything extra for me. My biggest support group was my girlfriend. She always told me I could tell her anything but in past relationships this was always crap. So I was fearful to tell her that I was an addict. She has never used so it was easy to hide. I was damn lucky she was still there for me after I got popped. And she is still here for me 5 years later. Besides I am too damn small to go to prison.
97479
St Vincent DePaul and the Salvation Army also provide assistance to families in need.  You can also check with Narcotics Anonymous to see if they can hook you up with a treatment program in your area.  Even if your substance problem isn't with "narcotics" they can assist you in finding a suitable program or orgainization to help meet your needs.  They have local chapters all over the country and are staffed by people who are in recovery.  Take Care and I hope this helps get you the help you need!
194535
Please re ask question, complete with son's name and area of the world...I'll do my best with what you;ve given me but more specifics would help channel energy directly - So thoughts to Irina , blessed be, help for you and your son right now to get through this lifethreatening time. Please know how much you are loved that, how much you are neede here, we pray for you and ask for recovery and help ffrom your spirrits to make this be right for you your son your family and friends .
302138
YES i HAVE CAME FROM NEGATIVE TO  POSITIVE, i WAS ADDICTED TO DRUGS AND HAD MY CHILDREN TAKING FROM ME TWICE AND THAT WAS THE WORST THING THAT i HAD TO EN DORE, THE POSITIVE IS THAT i HAVE BEEN CLEAN FOR OVER 4 YRS ND I HAVE MY CHILDREN BACK AND YOU ARE RIGHT THE BEST THING THAT YOU CAN DO IS TO TALK TO PEOPLE LIKE UR-SELF IT HELPS I CAN'T FULLY UNDERSTAND WHY IT HELPS BUT IT DOES JUST TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS WORLD AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS HELPS YOU NOT TO JUST GIVE UP ON  LIFE IF I CAN OVER COME THIS THEN I KNOW THAT YOU CAN GET THROUGH WHAT EVER YOU ARE GOING, I WAS ON DRUGS FOR OVER12 YRS AND THOUGHT THAT I WAS NEVER GONNA STOP AND GOD SAW FIT TO PUT SOME E PEOPLE TO HELP ME THAT I RELATED TO AND IT WORK AND IT STILL IS I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU.
401543
I am a recovering heroin addict 19 months sober. Anyhow usually when you suspect someone you are close to is using your RIGHT. You know his behavior and patterns better then anyone. On the other hand i found drug related caps needles cotton spoons and stuff FOR MONTHS in my house in my coat pockets or old purses sometimes that stuff lingers after you are done. I use to do coke to but i never cared for it like Heroin i still found straws and rolled up paper after i had stopped using. You have to relise he can't promise not to use again he's A ADDICT!. You can ONLY take care of how you handle his issues. You can't make him go to meeting you can go get support for you. He may never stop untill he loses everything including YOU. It has to be his choice you can't want it or force it you'll fail every time. There are boards online where you can get a better answer from recovering addicts and family of addicts. LOOK UP THE ADDICTION RECOVEDRY GUIDE online they have a family message board and a coke board i think it would help you a lot.
146841
when i was in h.s. and about to start college, my family fell onto hard time. I am very close to my family and wanted to put off going into school for them so that i could help out with my father and his illness. When i told my mom my plans to help out, she looked at me and said, "you've been with us your whole life. You have helped out, and you have been a good kid. Now it's your turn to go out and start a new life, for yourself. Don't let your family's hard times keep you down, just keep us in your hearts and don't stop loving us and we'll do the same. We will still be family no matter where you go." So just remember that you are an adult (assumedly) and it's your life to live, and while you love your family and want to be close to them, they'll understand if you choose to live far away from them.
375408
Well done on realising your status in life. As a successful, recovering drug addict i suggest the following..\n\nPlan what you realistically could acheive within your means.\nStick to your plan\nYou have internet access, use it!\nCreate a CV to distribute to various employers & agencies.\nFind short-term employment solutions to fund your basic needs like travelling costs to interviews, helping pay for groceries around the house, etc.\n\nI promise that if you show that little bit of effort to help, your mom & friends will notice it & they will lend you a hand of help. Remember that from the bottom, theres only one way to go, thats up!
502971
Yes I have and I played the role like everything was fine out in public and behind closed doors I was a mess. I cried for no reason and stopped taking phone calls from friends and never left my house nor let any one in. I can say that I'm finally coming out it and realizing that you can't do it alone. You really do need positive people in your life and you need prayer. When yo surround your self with positive prayful people who truley have your best interest at heart that tends to bring you out of your funk. I'm thankful everyday for my life and for God giving us Jesus. Be thankul for you life and for having this moment to make a difference. I think if you actually find soemthing to make your life meaningful whether it's voluteering in a food bank or just giving back to the community in some way; it should make you feel happy and blessed and hopefully help you realize that your life is great. You're alive you have access to a computer, you can read as well as write. Just that right there makes you better off than a whole lot of people. Love yourself and love your life right now because you never know when it may end; so give them something to talk about.  I love you in Christ and I wish you healing and blessings.
443544
there are really good chances of your friend staying clean with the right treatment and help. I think this is the wrong place because you have stupid people saying there is no chance, but then really nice people like there have been being supportive which is exactly what ure friend needs at this time, if people dont believe him/her why should he believe in himself? People seem to forget that everyone make mistakes in life and is a learning process. Im currently doing a degree in mental health and there are so many things to help your friend, sadly addicts only seem to realise when they hit rock bottom and lose everything, but that could be a good thing as they learn to pick themselves up again, please dont pay anyattention to people being narrow minded its because they dont understand addiction or are ignorant, he has a good friend by the sounds of it and that what they need, SUPPORT so the best thing is to go to the GP and see if they can get involved in some sort of therapy or interest. One of my favourites is art therapy and it creates so much self awareness and a new focus on life ! something different and rewarding with lots of love and support from loved ones like friends and family i hope ive been some help and good luck to him everyone deserves a second chance !