Ask Me Help Desk - Help. My brother is huffing.

Last night I came home from a week long trip after my parents picked me up from the airport. When we got home my 15 going on 16 year old brother was home alone and the house smelled like gas for the second time within a few months period. We knew it right then and there he was huffing. We all confronted him and my parents were yelling it was horrible and he kept denying it. So I told everyone to stop so I could talk to him. Finally he admitted he did huff it. My boyfriend had gotten to my house first and said he knew he was doing it because he was totally trashed when my brother opened the door. I don't understand why he did and or where he learned how. He claims his friends aren't doing it but I don't know. My mom said he hasn't seen his friends all summer since school has been out because she has bt been allowing him too. Please can someone help me as a big sister. I want to take him to some kind of support group so he can hear scary stories . Does anyone have any ideas what I can do. Thank you so much for listening. :(

I am so sorry to hear about your brother. I am glad to see you are dealing with it straight up. I hope your parents can do likewise.

Your parents need to contact your family physician and talk very plainly about your brother with him or her. The doctor can outline what steps can be taken concerning your brother from a medical/legal standpoint. If there is a treatment center near you, you can call them as well to talk about an intervention or other options. If you aren't sure how to find them look up Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous and call them to ask.

I don't mean to alarm but everyone needs to know that huffing is very very serious and can kill at the drop of a hat. I would advocate taking major steps in interrupting his active addiction-- steps your parents will need to take as they are the ones with authority. Fortunately since your brother is a minor, more measures will be possible than if he were an adult. This could include pulling him out of school and putting him in a more monitored environment. This is a "do whatever it takes" kind of problem. Feel free to print this answer out and show this to your parents if you think they aren't taking it seriously enough. Take some action right way, even if its not what I have suggested.

I hope this helps and if you have questions, please don't hesitate to post them here.

Val is absolutely right in that huffing can kill with the next episode. He needs professional treatment now. Most rehabs are 30 days and only address the immediate problem .He will need a good after care program that includes support and education and monitoring so I suggest in the strongest terms you educate yourself and your family to recognise the signs that he is becoming isolated, uncomfortable, irritable, or acting differently than usual. Know his friends, and where he goes. This is a long term process for the addict and the family. Addiction is often a symptom of an unresolved problem so a psychiatrist or counseling is appropriate. Good luck and do not hesitate to comeback if you have questions.

Thank you very much for your replies. My mom called his school and she is taking him to be drug tested for other drugs tomorrow. She is also putting him in a cousling session. She already doesn't allow him to see his friends and it has been that way all summer. He claims it has only been twice that he's done it but we think its been 4 times. My family and I are taking it step by step. My mom also took him to see his "girlfriend" and made him tell her and her mom. Which I think was a great idea, but it really upset him so I think that's good.

Thanks again and Im sure I will be back if I need more help. THANKS

I am very relieved to hear strong measures being taken. Good for you all. My greatest wish for your brother is that he find that flood light snapping on, life-changing, crystalline moment of clarity about how beautiful life really is and how close he came to pulling the plug on it all. Sometimes it takes many moments of upsetness to get there. Strength to you all too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigsister

Last night I came home from a week long trip after my parents picked me up from the airport. When we got home my 15 going on 16 year old brother was home alone and the house smelled like gas for the second time within a few months period. We knew it right then and there he was huffing. We all confronted him and my parents were yelling it was horrible and he kept denying it. So I told everyone to stop so I could talk to him. Finally he admitted he did huff it. My boyfriend had gotten to my house first and said he knew he was doing it because he was totally trashed when my brother opened the door. I dont understand why he did and or where he learned how. He claims his freinds arent doing it but I dont know. My mom said he hasnt seen his friends all summer since school has been out because she has bt been allowing him too. Please can someone help me as a big sister. I want to take him to some kind of support group so he can hear scary stories . Does anyone have any ideas what I can do. Thank you so much for listening. :(

Is your brother OK I did huffing 1 time and I blacked out it wasn't cool and I didn't think about what I was doing and then I found out what the dangers of it were and how it can kill you and I want to know what you did to stop him and I want to help stop people like if my friends were doing it and when I did it I had no thought about my family