Recently i found out a family member (who is 18) has been using meth here and there. she leaves her daughter (2) with my mom some weekends and stays gone all weekend and comes back and sleeps for hours. when she wakes up she has extreme mood swings and argues with everyone. i love her but how do i help her see she is ruining her life and her daughter's? Serious answers only please
2007-04-17 04:22:59 · 12 answers · asked by angelbabies98517 1 in Health ➔ Mental Health
You know what, I bet all these people don't know d ick about meth and addiction and whatnot. Addiction is a disease just like diabetes or cancer. Take your family member to a meeting of Narcotics Anonymous. Tell her that she should go just to humor you. Never tell her that she has a problem, because in order for her to truly recover, she must admit it on her own. It is a horrible feeling for family members to know that they cannot do anything to control their addicted loved-one, but it is the truth.
I would not recommend calling the police and child services becasue that will permanently scar her life. She will harbor enormouse resentments against you and may use just to get back at you, which may possibly cost her her life.
Have her parents take care of her child for a while and tell her that she cannot see her until she cleans up. She may go out and use for a few weeks to a few months, but I bet her conscience will bring her back to her child and she will want to get clean to see her.
Addicts are not horrible people. We have souls and consciences. More than anything we are EXTREMELY sensitive people who just need some love and attention once and a while. Take your family member out to lunch and just listen. Ask questions and don't judge. Addicts do not necessarily have to reach "rock bottom" to clean up. Any negative event in an addict's life can be used as a "bottom."
You see, we addicts need to mentally justify cleaning up in order to actually do it. We have to admit defeat and turn to a higher power to recover long-term. I can't say that I have completely turned my life over to my higher power. I am trying to do it on my own, which I know will not work, but I still have to try. An addict's life is full of contradictions.
I bet that your family member knows deep down inside that she has a problem. As a meth-addict myself, I knew from my first time using that I would have a long battle with the devil's drug. It may take her some time to finally take recovery seriously, but don't give up on her, even if she relapses. Love her, care for her, and never judge her.
God bless. I hope that your family member sees that she can die with this disease and not from it.
2007-04-17 13:35:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is hard.. its good that she is leaving her daughter while shes does it unfortunately she doesnt see the down side of when she comes off of it.. Keep being there for the daughter when she gets into trouble and she will.... then try to get custody of the little girl until the mom gets help... meth is a strong drug I have seen mothers with 2 little ones and be preg walk in the ran to go get some more...
2007-04-17 04:30:16 · answer #2 · answered by Clays mom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you cannot help her unless she accepts help eventhough she needs help. coming off a drug like that isnt that easy and she will probably have to go to rehab. Knowing that there is someone out there that can take care of her child if shes geting help is a good thing. You need to try to do the best you can to help her like gathering everyone that loves and cares about her and having an intervention or talk to her personally and let her know what she is doing to herself and her baby.
2007-04-17 05:22:01 · answer #3 · answered by mike k 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
report her to the police. show her images of meth uses (go to google and type in "faces of meth"), tell child services. that child needs to be removed form the situation now, she could be adopted and not have to have a life with a junkie as a mom. it might not be that bad now, but it will get worse. she will become addicted to it and possilbe sell her body to get it, either way she will associate with dodgy characters and within months her face will be ruined.
If you love her you will report her to the police - it could ultimatly save her life, if not the quality of her life.
2007-04-17 04:29:31 · answer #4 · answered by gumpy 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Unfortunately, you can't help her. Meth is a prison. You just have to save the child.
2007-04-17 04:30:12 · answer #5 · answered by Kacky 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A&E has a show called "Intervention", and they can get you in touch with counselors and people who can help your sister with her addiction and get her into rehabilitation. Here is the link, I suggest you see if they can help you. I have seen many success stories through them, and it will make your chances of helping her much more in your favor than without the help of professionals. Good luck to you all.
2007-04-17 04:50:25 · answer #6 · answered by Hot Coco Puff 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
you cant. you need to get the child out of the house. my brother-in law- ruined his whole family life cause of it and the lost everything the owned. eventually it will get worse and worse think of the kids safety, and when her child get taken away mayby shell realize to take a diffrent path
2007-04-17 04:31:08 · answer #7 · answered by jonathan l 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Consider reporting her annonymously to social services aka health and family welfare. You can file an annonymouse complaint about child neglect.
2007-04-17 04:31:01 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You owe it to that child to phone it in. The only way she'll get help is if you call the police and CPS.
Please don't let that bad habit get passed on to the next generation. It's not too late.
2007-04-17 04:31:31 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Take her to the hospital, they have all the correct methods of helping people and it is the best place for her.
2007-04-17 04:32:57 · answer #10 · answered by Krayden 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋