by: Debbie Wicker

Dear Laura,

Heroin addiction is a terrible disease that more and more families are facing. It is a disease that attacks the brain and disconnects the decision making part of the brain. The addict can no longer make well-reasoned informed decisions on their own.

At 18, your granddaughter’s brain is still developing making her all the more susceptible to addiction and its negative effects. Because she has tried out-patient treatment and relapsed she likely needs the support of inpatient treatment. Also, based on your comments she seems somewhat open to going into treatment.

I would recommend calling your doctor and asking for a referral to an inpatient treatment program. Then call that treatment program and ask for the support of a professional interventionist. Meet with the interventionist and with their support plan an intervention to get your granddaughter to agree to treatment.

Allow the interventionist to control exactly what happens and do what ever they recommend. Because heroin addiction is a fatal disease I recommend you do this ASAP!

Also, you may want to consider contacting Teen Challenge in your area. Teen challenge is a one year Christian inpatient program. Your granddaughter likely needs a spiritual reconnection to recover from this disease.

Also, you and her parents need to start attending Al-anon meetings in your area right away. Addiction is a long-term family problem and you must be in it for the long haul to help your granddaughter. The more you and her parents learn about addiction, its causes and treatments, the more likely it is you will successfully help your granddaughter to escape this hideous disease.

Good Luck!

Debbie