by: Debbie Wicker

Dear Chad,

I’m so very sorry that your mom is suffering from the awful disease of addiction. Helping her will be EXTREMELY challenging for these reasons:

1. You don’t live close to her (She lives in Oklahoma and you live in Texas).

2. She may not want to stop using and she has likely been using for a long time.

3. There are limited financial resources available for treatment.

Because I don’t know very much about your mom’s situation, I can only offer preliminary advice. Addiction is a disease of the brain and must be stopped so that the brain can return to it’s normal function. Addiction, if left untreated, is often a fatal disease. Your mom is likely in a life and death struggle, and has been for quite awhile. Based on your description she could be in the final stages of addiction.

It is CRITICAL that you take action immediately to try to help her. The first action I would take is to start attending Al-anon meetings three times a week in your area to learn as much as you can about addiction and so that you can begin working the 12 step program.

Once you begin working the 12 steps, try to find a sponsor who has helped a parent to overcome addiction. Work with that sponsor to create an action plan to help your mom.

Also, if possible, let your mom know what you’re doing and encourage her to start going to AA meetings DAILY. Talk to her about her addiction and about the value of the 12 step program for ending her substance dependence.

If she has any family or significant others living in her area, encourage them to also go to Al-anon and to begin working the steps. Also, have them go with her to OPEN AA meetings so they support her as she learns to stop using.

Depending on her addiction she may need MEDICAL/HOSPITAL support to withdraw from her drug of choice. Once she agrees that she wants to stop using, which should happen after she starts her daily meetings with AA, then have her go to a hospital ER and tell them that she needs medical support for withdrawal.

I know this sounds like a lot, but your mom has a terrible and difficult problem that will take a lot of effort on your part to help her.

There is hope and she can absolutely beat her addiction, especially if she has the TOTAL love and support of her family.

Good Luck,

Debbie

by: Bethany

Hello, my mom is a drug addict as well. I know it’s a hard thing to take in, but is she really wants help. There are so many places when she is ready she will know. Just never give up, and be there for her.