What do you do when your mother is an insane meth abuser?
I am 36 years old and my mother is 100% addicted meth- amphetamines. My whole life I have never seen her without being on some kind of drug. Now that she is 50+ years old she has lost what little mind that she had. She is paranoid, delusional, massively depressed and violent. She refuses to get any help because she thinks everyone is trying to rape and kill her. I want to help her but I cant. I don’t have the money to get her any real treatment not to mention she has already said that she would just check herself out in 3 days. Do I just walk away and let her die? I know that I cant be around her anymore because I have a problem with depression myself. Any ideas???
First things first … she has to stop using and then some of the other symptoms can be addressed. There should be programs in her area that are paid for by the county or at minimum are based on her income that she can go to. If she’s been using for that long the only programs that will have any chance at all are residential substance abuse treatment facilities. There should be some in her community. If she’s been using for that long she may now have meth induced mental health issues which means she’ll need a dual diagnosis program and that too should be on a residential basis.
But, all of this means nothing if she doesn’t want help. You can use this link to find treatment anywhere in the U.S.:
http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov
Contact that show on A&E called "Intervention" maybe they can help? They seem to do well getting people in to treatment.
As for yourself find a meeting of ALANON in your area better yet would be NARCANON but any support group for family members would be helpful to you.
I wish you much luck.
November 8th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
I would get her some help…pray but see if there is a trusting institution that can take her in until she is clean. I know this must hurt you alot but it would hurt more to see her waiste away even more than she already is. I apologize that she never gave you the chance to see how beautiful she can be without the drugs, but I know above all you love her and you need to pray and get her the help she deserves. I wish you and the family much luck.
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November 8th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
If you want to save your mother’s life you will need to get a mental hygiene warrant and have her committed to a hospital for treatment against her will. I don’t know how you feel about doing something like that but from what you say it sounds like it is either that or leave her to die.
Sorry but that’s how it looks to me. Good luck. I hope she gets better Jester; I feel for you buddy
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November 8th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Its called a mental inquest warrant…..check into it..if you say that she is a threat to herself …they will automatically take her in for help….good luck and God bless
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November 8th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Even though she is an adult, she can be involuntarily checked into an institution through your local mental health agency. (It does depend on which state you live in).
What I would do, is contact local (county) mental health and describe the situation to them. They can give you advise from there. Meth is the worst drug I’ve seen when it comes to the damage it does on the brain. I have seen someone go from the occasional user to diagnosed paranoid-schizophrenia in less than 5 years due to daily use.
Contact mental health. They’ll be able to put you in touch w. councelors that you can afford to help you cope as well.
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Google:
County Mental Health Agencies to find the one in your area.
November 8th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
You cannot fix another person. Obviously you care for your mother, but sometimes you do just need to walk away. Try a support group for family and friends of addicts. I know of Al-anon for alcohol, but I’m not sure if there is a similar group for other substances. Good luck.
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November 8th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
jeez man i feel really bad for you. i honestly don’t know what to tell you except you have to do something or your mom is going to die. meth is some of the nastiest shit on the planet and i suggest you try to find a clinic or some kind of drug rehab program in our town/city to help you. start by looking in the phone book (ours here have blue pages section with human resources) or contact your local AA or even a church. good luck and i hope you can get her the help she needs.
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November 8th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
wow i feel soso sorry for you me i would call the police on her yes she could go to jail but what is better death or jail !? alsothe government could help idk
hope you find a way !!!!!!!!!
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November 8th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Sadly, the truth of the matter with addicts is that if they dont want help, you cant make them get it. However, I would look into getting the law on your side to see if you can find a way to have her deemed mentaly unfit to make her own decisions. If you are able to do that, you can put her into a detox rehab and then have her admited to a psychiatric ward for the ehlp she will need with her mental capacities/dellusions from the drugs. Its a long, tough haul but not impossible with the right amount of persistance.
Lastly, if I were you I would contact NA (narcotics annonymous) and ask them for 2 things; One, to get some basic information about drug users… Two, to join the support group that they run for family members of drug addicted family members. You’ll find that it is a HUGE help.
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paramedic
November 8th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
First things first … she has to stop using and then some of the other symptoms can be addressed. There should be programs in her area that are paid for by the county or at minimum are based on her income that she can go to. If she’s been using for that long the only programs that will have any chance at all are residential substance abuse treatment facilities. There should be some in her community. If she’s been using for that long she may now have meth induced mental health issues which means she’ll need a dual diagnosis program and that too should be on a residential basis.
But, all of this means nothing if she doesn’t want help. You can use this link to find treatment anywhere in the U.S.:
http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov
Contact that show on A&E called "Intervention" maybe they can help? They seem to do well getting people in to treatment.
As for yourself find a meeting of ALANON in your area better yet would be NARCANON but any support group for family members would be helpful to you.
I wish you much luck.
References :
November 8th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
you can’t help her, she has to want to help herself, having her committed against her will will only cause your relationship with her to suffer. Calling the cops on her will do nothing to make her stop. Sadly, your only choice is to talk to her and try to convince her to stop using. if that doesn’t work, walk away and take care of yourself.
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