My friend is a heroin addict. Where do I go to talk with recovered addicts?
140347
You may be looking for Nar-Anon. It's basically an extension of NA (Narcotics Annonymous). It is a support for family and friends of addicts. It teaches you that you are powerless of your loved ones addiction and not responsible for their actions. I've been in the same boat as you. Good luck. \nI don't know about talking with recovered addicts. Most NA meetings are closed, which means it's for addicts only. You could contact your local NA and ask when they have open meetings.
129374
Well you could do like the other users said and do an intervention, kick them out and tell them you will not do anything to enable them to continue this lifestyle. No money, no contact, no favors. But keep in mind that it is not at all uncommon for addicts to call you bluff and walk out of your life. The interventions that work are usually when the person really does want to get help. If your kids refuse help there isn't anything you can do to help them. In a different life I was forced into rehab by my parents and guess what? I went along with the program and got high the day it was over. I had to want to stop and that took another 15 years to happen. I have a brother who we did an intervention on for cocain and he walked. Right now he is homeless and claims that this is the lifestyle he wants to live. It is up to you what to do, but you might want to talk to a professional about this further before you make a decision. Good luck.
109386
There's no easy answer to this, since there are no (well know) support groups or studies on this newer subject.\n\nI would start by reading up on addictions of any sort - no, he's not addicted to drugs or alcohol, but the understanding of why a person gets addicted in the first place might help.  \n\nAn intervention might help, especially if he's living with you.  Also a psychologist that speciallizes in addicion.  It'll probably be a new one to them, if you can get your son to see them, but it should help.  \n\nTough love could help as well.  He can't play video games if he's living in a homeless shelter.  That's an awful thing for me to say, but it is true.\n\nThis is not an easy thing, and you have my sympathy - I've been in your position, and it's not pretty.
21326
Whether you need to know because someone you care about is in trouble or for another reason, there is a wonderful on-line info and support group at \nhttp://prisontalk.com
803645
being a recovering addict myself I know that it is hard to help someone with a problem/first he must relize that he has a problem,u can't help someone that doesn't want help/be very supportive to him/take him to meetings/sometimes people have to hit rock bottom before they will get help and everyone has  a different rock bottom.I just hope his isn't death,good luck to u and your bf
591395
I guess just go to the police station and ask them who you should tell or basically that you know someone who is using drugs and you would like to help them.
70016
Hey There!! First of all, My name is Amanda & I know alot about drug addictions. I know what you're going through & I know How you feel. beleive that. I'm not sure what your drug of choice is but mine was methamphetamine. In the end, I was full blown junkie.Who would have ever thought? But anyway, I had to hit rock bottom before I was able to get help. There were times when I would hope and pray to get caught so I could kick the habit. My wishes came true. 3 times.!! After the 3rd time they finally ordered me to rehab. They found a weakness of mine and used it agoinst me in order to save my life. After3 months in inpatient and 3 meetings a week I was able to say NO.It was a long and hard journey and yes, I struggled and still do everyday but Darlin',You have to want help in order to be the person you once was. And if you wanted help so bad,,Then check yourself into the nearest Rehab center.
1030522
God bless that person for trying to fight the addiction of heroin.\nIt will be a tough battle for the rest of one's life.\n\nIf that person is not in a program, then he should get into a program and find a sponsor - someone whom he can call up when the desire becomes too great - for he cannot always fight this addiction on his own.\n\nThat person can also find hobbies and things to do to keep his mind occupied so he doesn't have the chance to think about heroin.\n\nIf he has friends who do drugs, he would be better off not having anything to do with those friends because those friends could lead him back to using.\n\nI will say prayers for him that he continues to live a clean life from now on.
1072474
There is always a chance of relapse with a former addict, no matter who you are.  You have to decide yourself if you will be abe  to deal with it if does happen again.  The temptation will always be there, and you need to help them cope with it if you truly want to be with them.
994762
First of all, does your friend WANT to quit? If not, nothing you do short of locking him up, will make a difference. \n\nIt he does want to stop, the pain of his withdrawal depends how heavily addicted he is, how much quantity he's using and also what method (smoking chasing injecting?) Milder withdrawal is like having the flu .. body aches, feverish, restless, agitated, runny nose, itchy skin. The worse it gets the nastier it gets. Be prepared for someone who might try to attack you if you stop them going out to score, or who tries to hurt themself or just ANYTHING to stop the craziness in their head and body. And don't trust anything they say, and be aware that they'll lie even if they say they really want to stop, they'll probably hide a little stuff "just in case". Don't let their friends visit them unless you're sure the friends aren't using too, cos they might bring them stuff. They'll need some strong painkillers and tablets probably won't be enough, so you really do need to have a doctor.  Frankly I think if you can't afford drug treatment or professional help and no follow-up with psychiatric help, you'll probably have to go through this more than once, cos they'll just end up going back on it if they don't get to the core of their problem. Surely there must be SOME places that aren't necessarily drug treatment facilities but at least some doctor or voluntary or religious organisation that would help? This is a really tough thing to do and having professional help would make it a bit less of a nightmare for you. \n\nJust writing about this brings up such bad memories .. I'm so sorry you have to go through this. Try and read as much as you can on the subject, you can probably get a lot of info on the net.
592124
There is nothing you can do. He/She needs to want to change. My sons father struggled with his addiction since he was 17 years old. He was incarcerated for 5 years, thats when our relationship started. We had a child and within 3 months of my pregnancy he started using again. Finally after the baby was born he went to detox. It didn't work he was in and out of 4 detox centers and 1 rehab within 5 months. I threw him out. I needed to worry about me and my child. We havent heard from him in 2 years and 4 months. I do know that hes been in jail again and that he is still useing 15 years later since he first used. Heroin is a bad drug I hate it because it took my childs father away. The only real thing you can do is DO NOT ENABLE your child.
157158
try narcotics anonymous. check your local phone book.
304364
Try here:\n\nhttp://www.recovery.org/aa/misc/oxford.html
1046292
I work in a jail setting and we frequently have heroin addicts to deal with. Generally speaking they detox without serious side effects and most are improved after 5-7 days. Rarely we have an inmate on methadone but that is a controlled substance just as a narcotic is and must be prescribed and well controlled to be effective. Primary concerns when detoxing are increased temperature and increased blood pressure and again these are usually rare. Your friend really needs to get into a program before they do wind up in jail where they will be forced to detox whether they want to or not. They will be quite uncomfortable but they will survive.
1067839
Many estimates are around 5% full recovery. Although it is interesting that in England where they prescribe heroin for certain medical conditions, that they seem to have virtually no problem weaning patients off of it. Perhaps if we used pharmaceutical grade heroin instead of methadone, we might have better results. Recovery from any drug addiction depends on amount, length and frequency of use. The prognosis is always better for people who have not used for more than a year.
1115615
Lisa, this is a truly selfless act of generosity, but you cannot help this individual. He has got to have professional help. If he id denying professional help then he is not truly ready to kick the habit. He needs other medications besides the ones you listed above. All of those are not gonna help him with the intense withdrawals he is going to experience. All those meds he is on are gonna do is keep him sedated and groggy. I have no addictions, but I was given everything you listed above for insomnia. Now, insomnia and heroin withdrawals are a whole heck of alot different. Has he ever tried to get on methadone therapy? I am frightened that you are in a situation that is gonna backfire on you. If his last "fix" was this morning he has not even started experiencing the absolute worst yet. You called him an aquaintance. Right? Well, you need to remove yourself from being SO involved in the scenario. Really, for your safety. I have never experienced knowing anyone with a  heroin addiction, but I have been close to friends and family who have had alcoholism, pill addiction......and I'd never put me, my family or my belongings at risk again, especially when there are free or low cost clinics available to these people. If this man decides to go get another fix he is going to, no matter what you say. If he doesn't have money he will steal whatever he can from you. It doesn't matter how serious he is about quitting. When the wothdrawals and pain start to set in he is going to want that feeling to end and the only way it is going to end is another fix. If you truly want to help then talk him into going for professional help. Get yourself out of the situation. It is seriously so nice and thoughtful of you to want to help this man, but this addiction is bigger than anything you, me or most people could even fathom. This is going to totally disrupt your entire life if you do not get him out of your house. Love yourself. Don't put yourself in the position to get hurt and that is exactly what you are doing if you allow this "aquaintance" to stay with you. Remember this, too: an addict will lie to anyone and tell you exactly what you want to hear and turn right around and rob and steal you blind. The drugs have ripped away any conscience that these users once had. God bless you for trying, but this is way bigger than you are.
503206
My brother died of a drug overdose so let me explain something to you that most people answering your question can not relate to. My brother was in denial as well. His drug of choice was Vicodin which is a commonly prescribed pain killer and he didnt see anything wrong with it. Drug addicts are the biggest mainipulaters you will ever meet. They drain you of all of your emotion. Now a lot of people are saying to let your friend get help on their own, that there is nothing you can do. If you are truly concerned for your friends life, I would suggest staging an intervention with other friends and family members in an effort to reach out and let your friend know how serious you are. \n\nMy brother is dead and I live every day with the guilt of not doing something to try to help him or to get him help. I always think there is something I could have done. I do believe that drug addicts can only get clean when they are ready to, but maybe your friend needs to know how serious you are so that they take a look in the mirror and see what they are doing to themselves.\n\nTrust me, you have to do something. My first step would be to get in touch with your friends family and find out if they are aware of how serious the problem is. Your friend needs professional help. You can't just lock an addict in a room and let them experience withdrawal. It is just too painful and it doesn't work for the long haul.\n\nGood Luck