Help with little brother

[phatchopper]

Well I just found out yesterday that my little brother who is 21 is shooting Heroin. I guess he has been at it for like 6 mos and I really dont know how the fuck to help him. He has been in jail before, and I think he broke in my house and stole my safe, so I may have the option of getting him sent back but if he goes it will be for like 5 maybe up to 20 years. He has been in and out of rehab his whole life for cocaine and has always been in trouble for some type of stupid shit. We live in Illinois, and I cant get him comitted because he can get himself out whenever he wants. He just lost his job and I am really at a loss for anything to do. I know he is probably going to die from this one because he barely made it through his cocaine habit he had going. So what if any advice could you guys give me. I would really appreciate some feedback.

thanks alot for the help
phatchopper

[JUICE]

damn man sorry to hear that bro, I dont know what to say bro, i have alot of friends who are like that, i just cut them all off. One was on the point of dying once for shotting heroin. The guy recovered, went to rehab, and was sober for like 2 weeks before going at it again. He even worst right now. Last time i heard of the dude, he looks like a bum, no life, nothing, even worst his body looks sick. One of my good buddies is into the white stuff alot. I still talk to the guy but dont wanna be around much. He was a smart guy and all but from what ive seen is going downhill bigtime. Yeah money and all is there but his ambitions and all the good stuff he knew is fading. Ive been around crap like that since i was in middle school to almost 2001 when i cut everyone off big time. I was the only one who never dealed, nor used any drugs. Guess i was the odd ball of my friends. I live in a fucked up city. Ive been around alcoholics too, had a wacko neighbor who threatened to harm me and my family cause we cut him off, wouldnt talk to the guy, so he gets pissed and threatened us.

Its hard bro, once a person is like that i dont think theres a change. Yeah there is rehab and all but what is it gonna do later. Only a few actually fight it and realize thats its bad but for the rest its hard. Addictions, wanting money, etc, is what keeps these people coming for more.

About jail time its hard. U say he's been there already before. If u throw him in jail, its something he's not gonna forget. Retaliation is what hes gonna think about for throwing him in there. Talking to him about it isnt going to change him. I don't know bro, wish there was a solution to fix this but its up to him for a change.

[phatchopper]

thanks alot juice, that is pretty much what everyone I've spoken to says, that he has got to want to do it and its up to him. And the whole body thing really freaks me out, because I see him and he is so skinny and nasty looking it just makes me sick. I guess I am going to have to let him hit bottom and if he doesnt die then I suppose he has no where to go but up. Man its fucked up though to sit here and let my brother die and there isnt a damn thing I can do about it, that is the hardest thing to deal with.

[ROCKETW19]

shit bro i have no words but i feel for ya. good luck

[Puddles]

Try looking around Narcotics Anonymous and there will be some links to local meetings and numbers you can call. http://www.na.org/ Getting your brother to attend a meeting is the first big step. From what I hear, NA really helps. If he won't go, maybe you should go to a meeting to talk to some people in recovery and maybe they can give you some direction.

My friend has been in recovery for a couple of years and swears by one of the books they sell, the one with the dark blue cover, Narcotics Anonymous, the basic text of recovery. He carries it with him everywhere, he put a blank cover on it so strangers don't know what he's got with him.

I wish the best for your brother. Be strong and compassionate. Heroin isn't just a mental addiction but it's physical, not something easy to get through.

[Puddles]

And try using Google to find some online support. I think if you just type in heroin addiction or narcotic addiction you'll find some chat boards like this one. I'm sure they'll be able to give you some first hand experiences on what you can do.

[njlovehandles]

I am very sorry to hear this. I hope everything works out!

[phatchopper]

thanks for the help guys, and girls I really appreciate it. After talking to another member here, I think that the best option is to give him the ultimatem of either you go to jail or check your ass in a program and if he fucks it up I'm sending his ass back to jail, no questions asked. That at least gives him some type of option, and gives me just a bit of hope

[devo]

try moving to a low key place and maybe the new start can help. good luck ....

[JUICE]

Originally posted by phatchopper
thanks for the help guys, and girls I really appreciate it. After talking to another member here, I think that the best option is to give him the ultimatem of either you go to jail or check your ass in a program and if he fucks it up I'm sending his ass back to jail, no questions asked. That at least gives him some type of option, and gives me just a bit of hope

he bro, just curious. Does your younger brother live with u at your house or with ur parents.

[phatchopper]

He was living at my parents house, then went to a rehab/bootcamp thing in utah, then came back and I let him live with me at school my last semester of my senior year, which was a horrible mistake, then he went to jail, then he lived at my parents, then got an apartment, then went to jail, then lived with my parents again, then I bought a house a month ago and gave him the apartment I had, I just left all of my furniture for him so he could have his own place, but I had no idea what he was actually up to. And my parents will not have him back because they found a capsule of heroin on the kitchen floor and needles in the basement and backyard, and I have a half brother who is 11, so that shit just wont fly, my parents cant risk that anymore

[shortz]

My little sister as a heroin addict. Just remember, once an addict, always an addict. You have to keep a close eye on them, they lose control very easily. A couple months ago one of her friends over dosed and died. She is now about to have her second baby at the age of 21, first one was at 17 and to a different father.

My little sister is fucked in the head. She moved back into the house with my parents, against everyone's advice, she shit on them the whole time she was there, now moved out into an apartment with her BF. My parents are still paying for their grandchild's day care and her car. Not sure where they are going to find the money to take care of her other child.

What an f'ing mess...

[JUICE]

Originally posted by phatchopper
He was living at my parents house, then went to a rehab/bootcamp thing in utah, then came back and I let him live with me at school my last semester of my senior year, which was a horrible mistake, then he went to jail, then he lived at my parents, then got an apartment, then went to jail, then lived with my parents again, then I bought a house a month ago and gave him the apartment I had, I just left all of my furniture for him so he could have his own place, but I had no idea what he was actually up to. And my parents will not have him back because they found a capsule of heroin on the kitchen floor and needles in the basement and backyard, and I have a half brother who is 11, so that shit just wont fly, my parents cant risk that anymore

i just hope everything goes well bro and one day he realizes and snaps out of it.

[phatchopper]

yeah shortz its pretty much the same way with my stupid brother, just constantly doing stupid crap all the time. My parents and everyone tries to help him out but what does he do, comes back and shits on them and me, its ridiculous. I've beaten the crap out of him so many times its not even worth it anymore I'm just done wasting my time and money on him, he has to want to help himself and if not I know that I tried.

[NYCmitch25]

Hey Shortz. I have a similar story. Its tough on the whole family. At least she hasnt started beating up my parents. She is out of the house now. Just comes over to get money food. I have some others (uncles, aunts) in my family with drug problems. Ive had them steal from me - money, possesions, and sell them. Came home 1 day and the TV was gone. Ive learned drug addicts are great minipulators and liars. Its best to cut them off or keep them at arms length.

If hes receptive to any help their are methadone clinics (keep him off the street). Good advise from puddles.