My brother is addicted to crack. . . . .~~~?

Question

Does anyone know of anybody that is beating this addiction? My brother was clean for a few weeks, doing great, and now he's using again. I know this is a very addictive drug. I feel hopeless. I know there is nothing I can do or say to help him. I feel like I just wanna turn my back, but I love him so much. I don't want to deny him of my love and suppourt, but I dont want to enable him, either. He started this past july.

Thank you SO MUCH, all of you, for your support and answers. Dan WANTS to be off of crack, and is very remorseful about using again. I realize it's a very addictive drug, and I feel sympathy towards him for that. (I don't so much show the sympothy, though.) Thank you so much. I got the guidence I was hoping for. xoxoxoxxo And good luck to all that are staying off the drugs! Kudos to you!!!

Answer 1

I've been off crystal meth for years. I don't keep track, I feel like keeping track of the last month/day/time I used would only serve to empower that part of my life as worthy of remembrance. In any event, any recovering addict is more likely to flip-flop between using and not-using. I can say that, for me at least, this was partially due to the helplessness, depression, and overall anxiety involved with sober life. When you are sober you come to realize some of the bridges you've burned while you were using hard drugs.

YOU need to come to realize that your brothers using is not an indication of:
1. Your inability to love him
2. Your inability to comfort him
3. His dissatisfaction with you
etc.
His using will depress you, but you need to disassociate his using with your actions. He is using; it is his bad, do not attempt to bear his burden. You are helpless, if he wants to clean up it is his responsibility. You cannot be to blame if you do not have the time and energy to spend trying to keep him clean all the time.

You can love and support him without enabling him. I think one good strategy to do this is to try to force yourself to not be so impacted by his using. If he interprets this correctly, he may be more comfortable around you when he is using, and may not feel as depressed when he cleans up (you didn't make him feel so guilty for using). Many times people have an intervention, in which users are confronted and asked to go to rehab. This can have mixed results because often the user doesn't want to quit, they just want to get their loved ones off their back. We had an intervention on my friend and he turned out well, but the intervention is not very pleasant.

July is not too long ago, there is still a great deal of hope for him. If he wants a real, good, happy life for himself, he should stop using, by himself, for himself, and on his own terms, as soon as humanly possible.

Best of luck.

Answer 2

Being addicted to something is the worst- whether it's a drug or not, just having that urge to have to rely on something to help you get by is horrible. The most important thing is he tried. It doesn't matter that he didn't succeed, he still tried... and it's never too late to try again. He must realize this.
It's been four months since I last touched Ice (crystal amphetamines) and it has been the longest four months of my life. The bottom line is, an addiction can only be overcome if the addictee WANTS to quit. Usually a motivation, an inspiration... and I know you wanna help him before it's too late or gets worse, but he can't be helped if he doesn't want to be.
Find out what your brother's dreams are. Long term and short term desires and goals... ask him also if he imagines being on crack whilst accomplishing them. These obstacles may seem impossible and so far away to achieve... but if crack isn't in the picture for the future, quitting now is the first step to reaching his true goals in life.

Answer 3

I had an addiction to Heroin and Oxycontin pills. I got better on my own because the 12 step program in my opinion was more like a cult than a support group. Check out the book "The Small Book" by Jack Trimpey. Also, he has a website www.rational.org which offers a lot of support for family members too. If you need to ask any more questions, I would love to help any way I can

Answer 4

the more important question is.. does he consciously want to beat his addiction? that is important because the body reacts better to therapy and treatment if the mind cooperates to such extent. when he is at least committed to accept help, there are lots of therapy centers which can help. your local health center can point you out the most suitable place to go. there you can show your love and support by being with him through treatment. there is big hope for fast recovery because he hasn't been into it for so long. but you gotta act fast in winning your brother over into accepting treatment. good luck, best wishes.

Answer 5

My brother is a recovering alcoholic~After denying that he had a problem..he checked himself in to a center...he wasn't ready to face the REAL WORLD..so he stayed another 30 days AFTER his 30 days...He was just shy of his 21st birthday~he's been clean and sober.....he's 39 yrs old...But you may have to turn your back on him...it's called TOUGH LOVE!! Doesn't mean you have to stop loving him~ and when HE gets the help HE needs...He'll come to you and he will ask YOUR fogiveness! My brother did this when I turned my back on him after an accident that could have killed him...(I had warned him several times about what he was doing to OUR family!) I stopped talking to him for almost 2 yrs...wouldn't even look him in the face...I was THAT mad!! HE won't seek help until he hits bottom and HE WANTS THE HELP!! HE has to be the one who sees HE NEEDS HELP!!!

Now my sister is a crystal meth addict! My father has custody of her daughter~the same person that helped my father get my neice away from my sister...is now demanding that my father return my neice...cause my sister is "BETTER" and doing great...okay...for this week maybe!! I've completely lost any and all feelings for her...and NOTHING anyone can say will change that...that sounds harsh...but she's ALWAYS put what she wants ahead of her daughter! I'm the oldest of the three of us and I don't drink,smoke etc...out of choice...I see what it's doing to our family...or rather what's left of it...

Let your brother know that when HE gets his life together...you'll be ready to talk..UNTIL then...GOOD BYE!! It will be some sleepless nights for you...but when he sobers up and stops the crap he's doing..HE will thank you...I know my brother did!

Answer 6

See if there are any NA (Narcotics Anonymous) meetings in your area. You can find out here: http://portaltools.na.org/portaltools/MeetingLoc/

You could probably attend them with you're brother to show your support. I think his knowing that he is not alone (in his recovery and in life) will be an important factor in kicking the habit.

I wish you the best.

Answer 7

I think your brother needs to be institutionalized...when I say that, he needs to be removed from the "source" or the environment completely!