Jmatt, look into Suboxone (beuoenephrine) (Subutex) for your friend. And then show him.
Betty Ford clinic uses it, it is by far a saving grace. For opioid addicts.
It actually blocks the opioid from getting the person high when taken properly. It also almost eliminates all Symptoms of withdrawal.
It has a higher success rate than anything on the market that I've seen.
And just my experience, I've NEVER seen, heard, or known of ANY opioid addict to be able to flat out quit voluntarily in a month or two.
Unless it was seriously just a recreational thing which is almost unheard of in itself.
This isn't something you just up and decide to walk away from because your life sucks and your friends aren't talking to you.
The first 2 weeks is similar to having the worst flu you can possibly imagine, with every nasty flu symptom there is, then times that by like ten.
Your body feels like its been run over by a Mac truck twice and then backed over for safe measure.
People don't just say yeah life really isn't good right now so I'm stopping. Well many do and then by day 2 or 3 (if they're that strong)
Rolls around and typically the want to feel better is beyond control. This is where most go out and over do it and die.
If you really care about this guy I'd highly recommend you talk him into seeking out a Suboxone clinic, if he's definitely WANTING to stop. And also a good bit of counseling.
Once he learns to be sober again which is a process in itself that can take years , depending.
He's gonna be the same person he was before the drugs, with the same issues, the same whatever that lead him down that path.
It may be okay now but one day soon things will get bad and someone will be there with a bag and a needle.
This isn't to rain on your parade at all.
This is me handing you a really nice umbrella and letting you know there's a sh!+ storm a comin' and your gonna need everything you can to block it from getting all over you.
Most addicts must hit absolute rock bottom to even really want to change, and by the time they do there's so many innocent people sitting there wondering where they went wrong.
Don't let him pull you down with him.
The best thing you can possibly do for an addict is completely shut them out 100%
No calls, no help, no friendship, no money, no rides, no NOTHING.
Demand total sobriety or NOTHING.
Anything you do beyond NOTHING and you are enabling him. Even if it's simple stuff. And it all adds up to his addiction lasting longer.
Your job as a friend is to help Rock Bottom along as best as you can. That's the only way to help an addict.
Unless you are a therapist, mental health and or behavioral medicine specialist, LCSW, psychiatrist, drug and alcohol recovery specialist/ counselor, etc.
There is NOTHING you can do to help except nothing. Again demand sobriety with the only negotiation being all or nothing. No second chance no do overs.
Good luck, I hope he really has started to clean up, but if he was any kind of regular user it's just not likely it's true or will last if it is. Sorry I'm trying to be realistic here.
Btw, we still need to hang the next time you're up at Knox. I lost your number, too, so feel free to PM or text me sometime.
It's great that he is hanging out with people who are clean. Keep in mind that a drug is a drug whether it comes in a needle, a pill, a bag or a bottle. Most addicts should stay away from all mind altering substances. It is your choice to decide if you want to drink when you are around him. I once heard someone say that "Changing from drugs to alchohol is like changing seats on the Titanic."
