Has anybody had this problem with neighbors on base housing?

Question

My neighbor next door is a pill junkie. She does anything and everything to get her hands on prescription drugs. She goes to the emergency room at least 2 times a week and they keep giving her all these drugs. She's on at least 5 different anti depression drugs and like 4 or 5 anti anxiety medication plus pain medication. She's like a walking zombie on this stuff. She goes to the emergency room for anything from headaches to hemmroids. She is very nice and good hearted but when she is on this stuff she is extremely annoying. Her husbands command is ready to kick him out of the Army because she causes so many problems with these drugs. At times she has even been known to smoke crack. Both my husband and myself try to tell her in a polite way that she needs to stop,we've even told her husband we dont like her when she's like this. We live in an apartment and she can see when we are home so we cant not open the door or she'll keep knocking. I just dont know what to do anymore.

sorry for talking about your wife! :) not at Bragg we're at FT. Drum

She doesnt go to a base hospitol she goes out in town. His command already knows about it and they just tell him to send her home. The MPs were here last week because she passed out on the toilet going to the bathroom. I tell her that she addicted but she has a million and one excuses for why she needs all of it.

The funny thing is I've done all these things. I told her husband to send her to rehab, the MPs know her already, her doctor has too know that he's doping her up and he refuses to give her a referal to se anyone else for pain management. Even housing knows she's like this-they thinks she's crazy. I dont understand how all these people know and no body does anything.

Answer 1

Unfortunately dealing with people who are drug addicts is very difficult, while I've never had a neighbor on drugs I have had family members with drug problems and it's really hard because you can talk to them while they're not high but then they forget everything once they are. My best advice is to (try) to find her at a time when she is not on anything and take her somewhere neutral like a coffee place or a park and talk to her one on one and tell her you're concerned for her safety and her husbands job safety as well. Tell her the specific problems and how it makes you feel, how her husband probably feels and what the future consequences might be. Tell her you are willing to help her when she is not on drugs (if you are willing to help) but you will not help her when she comes to you and she is on something no matter how many times she knocks on your door. You might try finding her a narc-anon (similar to AA, but for drug addicts) and offer to go with her to the first meeting and wait outside for her or something.
If you tell her you won't deal with her when she's on anything then you have to stick to that, no matter how many times she knocks. It sounds like you live in military housing which I know nothing about so I'm sorry if this next advice doesn't help at all-but if she continues to knock on your door when she's high then call the police or whatever security there is to have her removed. It's really unpleasant that you should have to be almost like a parent in this situation but she is not going to get better unless something forces her to see how big of a problem it is. Can you talk to her husband? Maybe she needs a detox program. If all else fails you might need to ask to be relocated or to have them relocated because you shouldn't feel like a prissoner in your own home because someone else is out of control.

Answer 2

My friend had this problem with a guy who lived right under her in their on-post apartment. He was a spouse, but they were pretty sure the wife/sponsor was on drugs too, as they found her passed out right in front of their door on more than one occasion. My other friend who lived right across from them even reported the husband to the MP's because while out for a walk one night she came upon him selling drugs to someone else. Nothing was every done about it But if you are concerned about your safety and just the overall quality of the place you live, you have the right to demand that housing put you somewhere else if everyone is unwilling to deal with your neighbor. It's really sad that her Doctor and her husband's unit, or even housing or MP's are unwilling to help this woman or at least arrest her so she's forced to look at the state of her life.

P.S.- Aside from this, do you like Ft. Drumm? We might PCS to there, and I have a friend who is supposed to go there early next year. Can you send me a message about what Ft. Drumm is like? Sorry for asking you about something else on your question!

Answer 3

i heard of a lot of stories at Ft. Silly and drug problems, hell it made the cover of the Army Times month or so back.

if you dont want to see a soldier's career go down the drain than take tell your neighbor the soldier to divorce his wife, which his commander already told him to do. or you can support that soldier in telling her to go into rehab. or just call the wiMPs the next time she goes crazy cuz his wife is affecting that soldier's performance in a negative manner, and that could cause him to that are unethical, unlawful, or totally neglects the soldiers that he leads. lovely ppl and all, but all they get is one chance, i dont get any chances and they are lucky cuz if it was my last CO, they would have been kicked off post housing without relocation benefit and that soldier would have been kicked out already

Answer 4

Until she admits that she is an addict, there is nothing that can be done for her. As far as her knocking on the door, tell her you're busy and you are unable to visit with her. My neighbor was a very nice woman, but also an addict. As hard as it was, my family had to make the decision to not socialize with her because of her behavior when she was high Unfortunately, her addictions killed her. I hope your neighbor is able to get help.

Answer 5

can't say that my daughter has called me and asked me what to do about that. she lives in new york on ft drum, but the emergancy room should be looking in to it, they can't refuse to treat her but they can give her something lighter then what they are giving her, as far as her husband being booted out... if he doesnt want to be out no matter how much he loves her he needs to find a way to make choices for her and check her into a rehab of so sort to help her, its true until she admitts shes addicted theres not much you or anyone else can do.. but if you want to not so much get her in trouble but get her some help call the police and tell them whats going on. they will go to her home and check her out and after like a couple of visits they can do something about it.. and as far as her knocking on your door just ignore it she will go away sooner or later.

Answer 6

I can understand your perdiciment. I mean you don't want your neighbor to get kicked out of the military cause his wife is unruly. You also have to look out of yourself and your well being. I'm sure it bothers you that she is always at your door. I personally wouldn't be able to handle it. You're going to have to call the MP's the next time this happens. Don't stress yourself out over this. She is the one with the problem.

Answer 7

When you go to the door, don't let her in and tell her you are very busy, you will come over when you are done.

As for the pills, many military doctors prescribe placebos, it's possible that one or more of her prescriptions is one. If she is an addict, her sponsoring service member is counseled as to the best course of action to take. If it continues, his company commander will advice him of his rights and hopefully point him in the right direction.

Answer 8

The emergency room at base hospital should be investigated. Report this to whomever is in charge. I know how annoying this woman can be and how harmful she is to herself, but it is not your responsibility to keep an eye on her. Request the authorities take over.

Answer 9

So she's getting all these pills from the base hospital? I'm a vet and I go to the clinic and they seem to be careful about monitoring our RX's. Try to find out who her doctor is and go see him. Tell him what's going on that's she's on several meds and acting crazy.

Answer 10

Since her husband is unwilling or unable to get her help I suggest you contact the Military police when she is bothering you or contact his comander and tell him about your situation. It may result them of losing base housing but the situation that you and the other neighbors are going thrugh.