How can someone quit heroine for good?

Question

My sister was a heroine user for about 5 years. She is now taking a substitute called "Subutex". But it seems that people who use the substitue drug are 'stuck' with it. How can someone truly let go of the drug?? I am aware that many rehab facilities are there to help people, but in France, like anywhere else I guess, it can be pretty expensive to enter a private facility. If you want to enter other 'free' facilities, there is a waiting list, and there is absolutely NO guarantee that you will be accepted for treatment. Can anyone suggest a step-by-step sort of program? Guidelines? Advice? A book dealing on a specific step-by-step program? Please do not tell me to send her to a rehab center. I am currently looking at a center that would be free of charge to her, but in case she is not accepted, I need to know what we could do to help her by ourselves. I thank all my fellow yahoo users in advance for any useful tips and help.

PS: I want my sister to get out of it, as much as she wants it. She is highly motivated.

What are the 12 steps of the program designed to help NA or AA?

Answer 1

There really is no mystique to any of this. If she is motivated she can come off it all at once, so-called cold turkey. It won't be comfortable but it won't hurt her in any permanent way. Many people have done it and continue to do it. There is a whole industry which profits from telling people they have to go to, usually expensive, rehabs. This is not true. I have assisted in many detoxes. All I have really done was provide minimal support, a few meds to ease digestive symptoms and a week's worth of sleeping pills to help at night. Not a lot of meds, just a bit. It will be uncomfortable for a few days, but many things in life are uncomfortable like having flu, recovering from surgery, being in an accident, having a baby etc. Discomfort is discomfort . She has to bear it. If she wants to use, she will use, it's that simple and the symptoms will be the excuse. It's not life threatening or even dangerous to come off drugs (unless you take a lot of drugs to ease symptoms). As far as NA or 12 step programmes go, be careful .They can be helpful, but there are a lot of people who go to these programmes who relapse and a lot who use the meetings to socialise with other addicts and make new 'connections' of the wrong kind. The ones I have seen succeed tend to stay away from other addicts and start a completely different kind of socialising with people who have never been addicted. Otherwise, being an addict can become a kind of 'job' and provide an identity that one then gets stuck with. Not that NA can't work, just be careful Some people also find the philosophy too prescriptive. and don't find it helpful. Once she is clean, you could look into Naltrexone maintenance for at least 6 months. Naltrexone is not addictive, does not provide any high whatsoever, is not like Methadone, but occupies the opiate receptors in the brain so that anyone who relapses experiences no high, nothing. So they tend not to abuse, although sometimes they have to try it out once or twice to be sure. There are pills that can be taken once a day or 3 times a week (depending on dosage) or they come in 6 month implants. I have seen many people who have overcome their addictions this way. With a 6 month implant you can guarantee 6 months of being clean and often that is enough although some have continued them for years with no adverse effects. It depends on how scared the individual is of relapsing. Good luck.

Answer 2

Tom is right on !! Whether she recieves treatment or not she needs to be around others that have experienced what she is going through. NA is the place. I have been clean and sober, one day at a time since August 1982. The way in which I stay sober is exactly how I got sober... not picking up "just for today" and talking with another recovering addict.Once she goes to NA if she needs a detox or other treatment people at the meetings will hook her up.You can pass this info on to her and let her research it. Don't do it for her!!! Sometimes we as loved ones want it more than the addict does. Allow her to reach out, it will indicate to you her motivation to get help. I suggest that once you pass on the info, lay off and get some help for youself. There are groups for family members. "NARANON" is for NA families or "ALANON"

Answer 3

I quit drugs, smoking, drinking, and the hardest of all- pornography all at once. Let me tell you, the only was God. I had to let God and a sense of purpose fill the void of all of the addictions. Of course, use a professional counselor, but one with a Christian tilt.

I did not use a counselor. I feel mine was miraculous. I just prayed and told God that he was in charge and that no matter what I wanted to please him and that I was sacrificing my urges for Him and asked for his help. I think if people can fast 40 days without food, you can fast drugs for just as long.

I found on each of the addictions that after the first week, it got a lot easier. More mind over matter. In the Christian world, we call that "Starving the sin" until it gets weaker and weaker.

I am still tempted sometimes, but I have learned to cope. Using those substances are really a medication to some sort of pain. That is why children of fatherless homes abuse drugs more often than two parent children.

"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

God Bless and Good Luck!

Answer 4

subutex, like methadone, is used to get off heroin but can also be addictive to the user. look into narcotics anonymous. it is a fellowship of other addicts and offers the twelve step program adopted from alcoholics anonymous. the only proven way to overcome any addiction. she must be willing to work the program and absolutely ready to quit using. it's a simple program but definitely not easy. open mind and open heart and it can be done. i am an alcoholic and drug addict who has tried everything known to quit for the last fifteen years. i've used for the last 22. these twelve steps are working for me right now. it is a minute by minute, one day at a time, conscious process. my thoughts and prayers are with ya'll

Answer 5

I hate to say this, but coming off any drug takes an awful lot of willpower, and without that she will never manage. She also needs help obviously as it can be very painful, but willpower will get her through in the end. If she doesn't want to come off the drug, then she won't. Look in Amazon.co.uk for books on drug addiction, I'm sure you'll find something that might help there.

Answer 6

I heard the addictive ingredient in heroin is as difficult to quit as nicotine, and when I quit smoking (after 4 tries) the best way was to get rid of all the smokers in my life and not hang around places where there's smoke. See, it's not just a habit but a lifestyle you're waving goodbye to, and not all people handle major life changes very well.

Answer 7

I'm a nurse. The inpatient program is the best due to how long she has used the drug. This is one of the hardest drugs to overcome. Tell her not to give up, take care.

Answer 8

i dont think tricks work....

addiction will be a life long battle for ur sister... she will always be an addict, just hopefully a recovering/recovered addict....

talk 2 other ppl with similiar problems, same methods as AA typically work, go 2 NA meetings check it out, gl