How can I prevent my beautiful little sister from dying of a heroin overdose?

Question

My younger sister is just 22 years old. She is beautiful, very smart and very artistic. We live in the New York area. She was working and going to school until about a year and a half ago. This is a girl who did not even take a drink and then she just starts shooting heroin and I have no idea why. Two of her close friends have died of heroin overdoses within the last 6 months. My sister overdosed about two weeks ago. She was dead. Her heart stopped and she had no pulse. She was revived in the emergency room. I have done everything to try and help her. She will not go to rehab or N.A. meetings. She says she can do this herself. I call her constantly and write her letters and try to babysit her to keep her alive. She ignores me most of the time. I can not sleep and I hardly eat. I am so upset and depressed about her as I feel I will get a call one day that she is gone. My husband tells me to stop chasing after her and she has to want the help herself.

Answer 1

report her to the police so she gets arrested. Scarred straight sometimes works.

Answer 2

Prayer. My fiance was a heroin addict from the age of 17 until last year. He went to prison and came home about 3 weeks ago and is going into a christian discipleship program tomorrow. I have been through hell and back in the 3 years we've been together and your husband is right. She has to want it. You can help her through prayer and that is what it is going to take. She won't be able to do it alone but on those days that she cries to you tell her about Jesus and how when she doesn't have the strength to do it He's there. For you, as painful and frustrating as it is, know that as long as you put her in God's hands and know that everything has purpose-you will be o.k. On the practical side, besides prayer, educate yourself about the drug and local establishments that are available for those with similar addictions---both detox and rehabilitation. Do NOT ever give her money though. I'll be praying for you and her.

Answer 3

Your husband is right that she does have to want to help herself. But since she is your sister it is right what you are doing. You shouldnt give up and keep letting her know that you care for her. You could probably call a Dr or hospital. Maybe you could call a rehab place or anything like that. Maybe they have suggestions. Also you said she wont go there on her own. Have you tried taking her to any of those places? Maybe you could try taking one of those people to her and have her go. Tell her you love her and dont want to loose her. She is too young to die and has a whole life ahead of her. Not to ruin it now. Tell her that she not only needs to be thinking of herself but also about you. Tell her how heartbroken you will be to live the rest of your life w/out her. I'm sure you've done this before. But I hope I was some help. I'm very sorry for this. It has to be tough. Stay strong for her!

Answer 4

{{{{{Kelly}}}}} I am so sorry for you loss. And I am sorry that people are so terrified of being sued or bothered with another person's life that they will not help anyone in need. I agree, why not call 911? In a group of 11 people, surely someone had a cell phone even if there wasn't one in the apartment. I agree, yes somebody should have helped. They have to live with themselves and I hope they have consciences. Sweetheart, please stop following these people or you are going to wind-up in a lot of trouble and you will not honour your sister's memory. I know you'd like to make them hurt they way you do and that they should pay for what they didn't do for her. But you can't. The best thing you can do for your sister is to live your life and remember the best things about her. May I suggest that you be the person who calls 911 for another person in trouble? You be the friend in need. From what you say about your relationship with your sister you have a compassionate and caring heart. Nurture that. This will always hurt. And you will often get angry at the injustice of the situation, but do not let it ruin your life. Okay. If you would like, I will make my e-mail available so that you can write someone who at least will care. I'll check back, so let me know.

Answer 5

Heroin is a painkiller. problem is it messes up our ability to feel good so if you try to stop the pain is even worse plus the pain of the Heroin withdrawal itself. She likely feels shame about being a junky on top of it. Yes she must quit on her own. But knowing that people love and care, that they still value, no matter what she thinks of herself, can help.
Just be careful you don't get sucked into the soap opera of her life. You have your life to live as well. Her needs do not over rule those of you and your family.

Answer 6

I am very sorry for you and for your sister. I can't pretend that I have personal experience with drug addiction, but I sympathize with your plight. Have you ever watched the TV show "Intervention"? I am not suggesting that a television show can solve your very real problem, but it does give an in-depth look at others with very similar issues and how you might create a situation where she will voluntarily seek help. I don't know if this will help, but it may be a start. I hope this works out for both of you.

Answer 7

I feel for you.

Not trying to be mean, but, there really is very little that you personally can do for her other than support her in a positive way and try to keep the lines of communication open.

My personal experience is that most rehab is 12 step based and if she buys into that whole religious experience, you might not care too much for her even if she gets clean.

Your husband is right as far as the fact that she needs to want to quit.

Good luck.

Answer 8

We tried for six years to save my cousin from heroin. It didn't work. She ended up murdered on the streets in Eugene, Oregon. We tried everything as well.

This is not your call. Love her and let the Creator lead her down whichever path is the one chosen for her.

I know my cousin is on the other side now. No addiction, no pain, a new beginning. Not what I wish for your sister, but if that is the path that is set before her, you can't change it.

Take very good care of yourself. You will need your strength.

Answer 9

You can get in touch with professional advisors for this. Please get all the advice you can because you don't want to burden yourself with if onlys in the event of a tragedy.
Nevertheless she may be so far down in a rut that your concern is not going to be enough to get her out of it. She needs ex addicts and trained counsellors to talk to her.
Nevertheless I'd be tempted to invite her over to see you and take her out for a day trip somewhere where you can have a real heart to heart. Cry your eyes out in front of her if you need to. Good luck and don't be hard on yourself if you lose this fight. But don't just worry about it. Do something and make peace with yourself after that because you tried your best.

Answer 10

Your husband is right as hard as it is. Pray for her and your prayers will be answered. She may have to hit rock bottom before she can come back again. If you do not take care of yourself you will have no energy to take care of her. Your other family members need you, too. Please see this as a sign to let her find her way. You can pray for her and for yourself. Have faith she will get through this. And so will you. Maybe not the way you think, but everything will be ok if trust in God. "Peace be with you. Peace I give to you. Not as the world gives. Do not be afraid and do not be troubled." (John14:27) my favorite verse. It is so calming and reassuring.

Answer 11

I feel your pain on multiple levels. That helpless, desperate feeling that we feel at times like this accompanies the feeling of failure when we can't get thru to them. And of course, don't forget the angry feelings too. Life is precious and sweet. For whatever reason, she doesn't see this. Perhaps she needs to be baker acted. Maybe she needs to be arrested. Right now is not the time to be timid. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Do what you must but remember one thing: you can't save her. My friends spouse was 30days in rehab, left and went right to the liquor store. How does one explain this irresponsibility and selfishness? What more can she do? Nothing. As for you, get prepared to get into counseling. Trust me.....you're going to need it more than you think.