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ramirez28 · Nov 22, 2006, 07:22 PM

I have a 34 year old brother with addictions to all kinds of prescription drugs is their any way I can get him help without his concent before he kills himself or a family member please someone give me some advise.

crybabypirate2255 · Nov 23, 2006, 12:07 AM

Oh my goodness, I am SO with you! My aunt is like that. What you should do, is go to him. I mean, he would be broken hearted if you tried to send him away to the loony bin behind his back. It should be something like this:
You to your bro- "Do you care about me? If there was something that scared me, and you were the only one who could get rid of whatever scared me, would you get rid of it?"
Butter him up to saying yes, then be frank and lay it out flat.
"I don't mean to nag, I really care about you, but, the thing that scares me, the fact that you are addicted."
Set up some rehab for him. Slowly ween him off the drugs. Get him to realize he can live, better, without them.

phillysteakandcheese · Nov 23, 2006, 08:36 AM

You can try talking to him...
You can try getting him into a hospital or rehab center...
You can get him arrested...

But...

Until he acknowledges he has a problem and decides that he wants to seriously do something about it, his addictions will rule him.

All you can do it encourage him to get help, and accept that he's an adult making his own choices in his life.

J_9 · Nov 23, 2006, 08:52 AM

I agree with Philly. The other thing you can do is contact his doctor for a consultation. You can discuss your concerns with his doctor and let his doc take it from there.

At that point the doc will probably change his meds to non-addictive pain pills or cut him off completely.

The pharmacy where he get is scripts filled can also be a good place to go.

But, as Philly mentioned, until he recognizes that he has a problem he is not likely to do anything about it.

Fr_Chuck · Nov 23, 2006, 09:20 AM

I can only tell you from GA, there was nothing we could do unless they were arrested for a crime and the judge ordered treatment.

If they are mentally ill ( and drug addition does not classify as mentaly ill)
But family can get a mentally ill committed, if they have enough money to pay the bill.

But as said, while the doctors can't really discuss the case with you, you can tell all of his doctors your concerns.

valinors_sorrow · Nov 23, 2006, 12:26 PM

Lots of good advice here. I would only add that here in Florida (where I live) its possible to use the "Marchman Act" where they can be forced into a detox. It is only a three day stay and I have to tell you that, like Phil said, when its against their will, it doesn't work very well. There may be something like that where you live. Or a treatment center willing to orchestrate an intervention which is best run by a professional.

Because addiction classifies as an illness (which it is) he is free to forgo any treatment just like a cancer patient might choose to refuse chemotherapy. Its sad since it's a disease that says to the person they don't have a disease so he may be caught up in that.

Please consider attending Al-Anon for yourself where you can learn to to better cope with your brother's active addiction. At the very least learn to talk straight to him (he needs the truth like Crybaby said but not condemnation) and to protect yourself. I am so sorry.

talaniman · Nov 23, 2006, 05:46 PM

Do what you must to protect yourself and pray he wants to change.

posheak · Nov 24, 2006, 12:17 PM

He is an adult, so unless you can prove (in a court of law) that he is mentally incompetent, you cannot force him to do anything against his will. Even if you could put him in a treatment center, it wouldn't do any good if he didn't really want to get better. Sometimes, as hard as it is to do, you just have to let them hit rock bottom. That is when they will ask for help... then you move heaven and earth to get them the help they need.

This is just a opinion.

Etiels · Nov 27, 2006, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by ramirez28

i have a 34 year old brother with addictions to all kinds of prescription drugs is their any way i can get him help without his concent before he kills himself or a family member please someone give me some advise.

I would recommend doing an intervention; but it's very important that it be done with the help of a professional. Some suggestions would be to call drug rehab centers or hospitals with drug rehab units, and see if there is a professional who has experience with intervention.

caughtup · Nov 27, 2006, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by ramirez28

i have a 34 year old brother with addictions to all kinds of prescription drugs is their any way i can get him help without his concent before he kills himself or a family member please someone give me some advise.

I kind of had the same problem. I never had a problem with them until I had trouble sleeping. I wouldn't even take pills if I had a horrible migraine. I started on Nyquil. That would put me to sleep. Then I had gotten my teeth taken out and they gave me these wonderful drugs that would take the pain away and knock me out for a good while. I used them even when my teeth didn't hurt and I took them until they were gone. Then I went to the doctors cause I had a migraine and I didn't want to go to work, so I figured he could give me a slip and I wouldn't have to go to work. But he also gave me some pills. They knocked me out too. I didn't take them until they were gone, but I did end up using them for sleeping reasons when I really didn't have to. But I figured out why I was doing this. I was unhappy. I was having a lot of trouble with my boyfriend and sleeping would make everything better. So what I'm trying to get at... maybe he is unhappy about something, and he needs that to get better before he stops using drugs. So ask him if anything is going on that you don't know about and try to make it better. Hope this is useful, and I hope he does get better.