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my sister is an addict
My sister is addicted to vicodin and morphine. She is in a bad stage of it and family is turning on her.She lives in Florida me in Ohio, How can I get the family to help her even though she has become a depressed mess, and yes she is in a major state of denial.Thanks
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It must be extremely difficult seeing a a sister go through something like this. Your family must have tried to help her countless times, but it just isn't working.
Get her some professional help. Therapy usually helps to get the psychological issues through, but it takes a long-term commitment (at least 6 months) that most people are usually unwilling to take. Get her enrolled in a 12-step program (i.e. Narcotics Anonymous).
Here's a link for Florida. You'll have to find the locality:
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
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You don't mention whether anyone has tried to help her already. If so, then they may have tried and found that nothing they do will help. A drug addict in denial is an emotional black hole; they suck everything in and give nothing back. It is very easy to become totally exasperated with such a person, and that might be where the rest of the family is at this point. They may have good reasons to turn on her, like broken promises or other violations of trust which eventually became too much to forgive.
Before trying to help her yourself, consider: will she accept it, or will she use you? If you spend time, money, and effort getting her cleaned up, do you think she'll stay that way, or go right back again once she has to stand on her own? If you send money, do you think it will be spent on food or more drugs? If you go to her, will you pull her back into your world, or will she suck you down into hers?
The unfortunate facts are these: she is in denial, she would seem to be unable or unwilling to help herself, and you are a thousand miles away. About the only thing you can do for her is be her connection back to her family when she is ready to come back. Stay in touch with her, and perhaps you can represent the alternative to her drug habit.
The important thing is to do nothing that "enables" her. Don't send money, don't cover for her, and don't let her think that everything is fine, because it's not.
And the day may come when you must also turn your back. If she chooses to ruin her own life, that's her own unfortunate choice. Don't let her ruin yours in the process. You have to know when to walk away.
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The most important thing is for you to be there for her. You have NO idea how much your sister needs you right now (even if she doesnt admit to it). Talk to your family without your sister there and explain to them the kind of problem your sister is in and the fact that she needs help immediatly. Your sister needs to go and get theray/rehab, especially if she's in denial. Being a drug addict is SUCH a serious matter where she needs professional help. You or your familly cannot simply ignore it and hope that it would just go away, because most likely, shes not strong enough to overcome this on her own. You REALLY need to get her professional help and family help and make sure your family is there for her!! She needs to be sure that she has a support system to back her up.
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