how do you help a drug addict who may not want help? My sister has overdosed for the 4th time. She won't stop

Question

She's now in ICU on a ventilator, her heart stopped & she was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. We aren't even sure yet what kind of damage it's caused this time. She's 23 yrs old, has been in jail several times, and this is now her 4th time in the hospital for overdosing. The other times she was released within 24hrs, but this time she's been in for 48hrs & still counting....what can we do to help her, my parents can't continue to go through this pain & heartache. Please, any "sincere" advice would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

try your best into getting medical attention or sending her to a REALLY good re-hab center....i wish you and your sister and fam the best

Answer 2

I Was That Drug Addict And I Can TEll You From Experience The Only Thing That Is Going To Help Her Is Tough Love!! I Dont Mean To Sound Harsh And Uncaring But Every Time My Mom And Friends Were There For Me I Had A Reason To Go Back To The Debts Of HELL.They Pulled Me Out Of Financial Dificulties Every Time I Owed Money,Took Care Of My Kids When I Should Of Been There And It Gave Me All The LeeWay I Needed To Pursue My True LOVE,DRUGS!!! Let Me Set Things Straight I Am Sure At This Point She Does Not Want The Drugs But The Drugs Control Her And She Needs Serious Help.

I Hope That You And Your Family Are Strong Enough To Give Her The Tough Love That She Needs.Meaning No More Financial Support Or Getting Her Out OF Trouble,You Need To Demand That She Gets Help Or You Will Have Nothing To Do With Her.At First It Will Be Because She Doesnt Want To Lose Her Family Then It Will CATCH,She Will See What The Drugs Are Doing To Her!!! Then And Only Then You Will Need To Support Her She Will Need To Be Dilligent In Her Recovery(AA,NA,ETC.)Whatever It Takes She May Even Need Counseling I Know I Did I Was A Mess I Have Now Been Clean For 5Years.

I Will Pray For You Because This Is A Very Tough Road And It Takes Many Of Gods Good People With It.I Was In A Coma For 22 Days With Liver Failure Because Of The Drugs And Alcohol And I Wish I Could Say That I Learned My Lesson Then. I Didnt I Had Many Other Bumps In The Road To Travel Before God Chose To Lead Me On The Right One.God Be With You And Whatever Happens Do Not Let This Ruin Your Life!!!
YOUR FRIEND IN CHRIST

Answer 3

I;m so sorry to say, but I've done exactly what your sister has done but it was the third time that ended me up on a ventilator and in the ICU. I have three weeks that I have no memory of..My mother had me commited to a mental health/drug rehab center. While there I got help for my depression which was much worse than anyone knew, I hid it very well....Once all the drugs were out of my system and I was put on antidepressants, I saw my mom, and I saw the pain I had put her through, through her tears and her telling me what had happened and I haven't tryed to hurt myself again and it's been about six years now.....So have her committed....It's tough love, and you love her and want to save her life; this is what you have to do....It will be a court committment, so she cannot get out till she meets certain requirements and a Judge releases her...Make sure the place you send her is well qualified, and offers both daily counseling and treatment... Some places only warehouse the mentally ill and don't help them so do your homework well.... Ask the nurses, the doctors which is the best place, call around talk to the places, if its state run don't go there, I can already tell you it will be warehousing.....County is also this way...Try to find a mental health facility that is affiliated with the hospital she is in.....Once she is consious, this is assuming she regains consiouness have her doctor consult a Psychiatrist this will start the ball rolling. It doesn't matter that she is an adult, the facts are clear that she is a danger to herself., and she needs serious help. Once she is allowed to leave she needs to be made to go to Narcotics Anonymous, this really kept me going in my weak months after the initial getting clean in the hospital. She will need continued Psychiatric care and regular therapy for at least a year. This is what it is gonna take to make her whole and you have to make it happen. Do what I've told you, if she refuses to do the stuff after rehab then your parents need to wash their hands of her, because she will never change unless she wants it. I will pray for you and your family and I wish you the best......

Answer 4

It's already been said, and it's sadly true, you cannot help a drug addict who doesn't want to be helped. It's entirely possible that she's damaged her organs and her brain to the point where she may either die or remain in a vegetative state, ventilator-dependent. Perhaps she will survive and have sustained brain damage and still be ventilator-dependent and might eventually require permanent custodial care once she goes through acute and sub-acute.

It's been said that addicts who continue to overdose have a death wish. I don't now if this is true in your sister's case but she's been self-medicating for a reason.

I am truly sorry for her, and for you and your parents and all you've been through. If it turns out that she has no hope of a meaningful recovery, then your parents could make the decision to end it once and for all. My heart goes out to all of you.

Answer 5

Oh my goodness, I am so sorry for what you and your family are going thru. Unfortunately, sweetie, there is actually nothing that you can do. She is the one who is going to have to want to quit. You can wish it, demand it, threaten to disown her, threaten to beat her, but nothing is going to stop her until she wants to stop. Since this is not her first rodeo, I doubt it is going to be her last. The only thing that you can do is hope that eventually she will see the light and wise up. I wish there was something that I could tell you to make it all better, but the bottom line is, I can't. Your sister does have a major problem, but as I said, until she realizes it, this circle is going to continue. May God be with you, her and your poor parents. People just do not understand what drug abuse can put the family through until it is one of them. I sure wish I did not know. I have already been there and done this and it was hell. I'll pray for her and you and your parents.

Answer 6

She's got issues. Does she talk to anyone like you, a friend, even a therapist? There something there that's making her do this and she needs to sort out what it is. A therapist will help her a great deal if she's a bit funny about going be a good siser and maybe go with her. if she's fine with going in by herself sit out in the waiting room by that will also comfort her knowing your there and you can support her. Has something happened to her in the past maybe thats why she is like this. Was she raped, has there been family issues. Something must of happened to trigger her off like this. No-one just O.D for the hell of it. Good Luck and i wish all the best for you sister.
I remember around 10 years ago one of my good friends O.D right in front of me it was terrible. I understand what your going thru you and you poor family.

Answer 7

It is very difficult to help someone who does not want to help themselves, however, it can be done. Have you thought about hiring an interventionist who comes to your home and speaks with your family about getting your sister some help? how about getting her into rehab through reasonable force? Sometimes force is required to get someone to realize that they can't go on like this and sometimes it takes an ultimatum. There are services available, do you talk with your sister much? you and your family need to support her, love her, and get her into therapy, there is still hope and it can be done, many people recover. I wish you luck, i hope everything turns out okay, dont give up on her, with family it is worth it.

Answer 8

Try to find the roots of her pain. Its deeper then just addiction, its something else in her life that is'nt fulfilling her. What about her lovelife, a career, the future, having kids? Its time for you to step up and take care of your family. Find out why is she hurting herself and basically trying to kill herself? When you find all these reasons out, then you can start to figure out how you can make it better for her and for her to change. I could'nt look myself in the mirror if one of my brothers died like this and I did'nt do everything I could to help. You have a mission. I will pray for her and you. You can start by being there everyday making sure yourself she is'nt doing drugs.

Answer 9

do 1 thing. like u love ur sister so much,she may also attached to someone in ur house like ur mom or dad or even ur brother if u have.tell her that that special person too is involved with drugs because of her ( dont sound as if ur blaming her) and if she gets somewhat intreseted to co-operate,take her to a rehab.if u want ur sis back,this is a good option.listen people do have do face rehabs,hospitals sometime in their lives and this is just a phase.just imagine her life if she looses drugs and have this as a positive thing in ur mind.
best of luck

Answer 10

You have to FORCE her into a treatment program. You now have concrete evidence that she is a danger to herself (she's in ICU... again!) so it might not be as hard as you think. You may even have to have her arrested to have her forced into treatement. Ultimately however if she does not want to change, there really isn't a lot you can do. Good luck

Answer 11

I hate to tell you this but the only way that you can help your sister, is if she decides that she wants help:(
It's hard to hear and it sucks to feel helpless. I know how you feel. My best friend had an addiction to speed and she only got better when she decided that she was ready.
I suggest to pray and make sure she knows how much she means to you.
Good Luck