Have you ever known someone who overdosed?

Yes. My roommate overdosed on March 23rd 1998. My husband (boyfriend at the time) and I woke in the morning to find his dead body in the living room. He had been doing speedballs, a combination of heroin and cocaine.

The good news is that it was a serious reality check for my husband and I. I had already stopped doing dope a couple weeks before because I got pregnant and my husband had been trying but the lifestyle is very hard to turn away from. We have both been clean for more than 12 years now. We never entered a rehab program or took methadone but our drug use was staggered and often changed depending on what substance was available and our bodies were not as depend ant upon it.

Heroin can be extremely hard to kick. It is not only a mental addiction but a physical one. Heroin replaces the dopamines a body naturally creates to fight pain. When a person comes off heroin the dopamine takes a long time to kick back into gear making it an EXTREMELY painful and sometimes deadly process. It's good that he is in rehab, they can help him.

If he was shooting up then it can be even harder. My veins still itch thinking about that high. Rehab is a good start but if he can do it without methadone - or use methadone in very small amounts and taper off quickly that would be the best. Methadone stunts the regeneration of the dopamines but it also takes the pain away. Also, the methadone clinics people have to go to are filled with drug users and it's not the best atmosphere. Not to mention methadone is potentially dangerous too. It's synthetic heroin given in prescribed doses and can be abused -and create a new addiction- if not used properly. On that same note, he will forever need to avoid opiates of any kind - no cough syrup with codeine or morphine after an injury. Especially in the next 2 years.

When he gets out of rehab he needs to find a new environment. Get away from the dealers and friends who did it with him. If he has a willing relative in another city or state send him to stay with them for awhile. I think that is what really saved my husband. I was stronger than him and he is so kind and such a junkie that he makes friends with anyone and can't turn down drugs. We moved to my home state so I could be around my family when I had my daughter. If there is no one around to hand them out he is fine and doesn't think about it.

Life can get better but he has to work really hard. It will be a year or two before the cravings go away. He needs to find a new passion, or a "healthy" addiction like working out or playing the guitar - maybe something he used to like but forgot about when using.

Good luck. Don't give up on him yet. I was 20 when I stopped after 5 years of increasingly heavy drug use - my husband was 26. Since then we have both gone to college, bought a house w/two car garage and live a pretty average middle class life. Sometimes things seem really dull compared to the fast paced party life we lived before but at least I am alive and have my wits about me.

If you want a really good movie to explain where his head is at watch Requiem for a Dream, it's about speed but it is very realistic. Also Christiane F if you can find it - it's an 80s movie with David Bowie but really good.

You and your family should look into going to Al-anon meetings. This 12 step group will help you better understand the disease of addiction and understand how to "let go with love." I have known many people who have over dosed, many have died. Just because he is in rehab, and just because he almost died does not mean the he will definately stay clean and sober. How do I know? I have been a member of AA for almost 18 years. I have seen it all, done too many things myself and know the heartache of watching those you care for kill themselves. Please get the help that YOU need and let your nephew get the help he needs.

Sorry about your nephew, I hope rehab helps him this time. I overdosed on purpose last year. I got help though, and I'm in a much better place emotionally.

As sad as it is, this is a very common occurrence with heroin addicts. It may not be the first time its happened to him. I'm glad he is safe now and I hope he sticks with rehab.

It has been my sad misfortune to have been personally acquainted with more than my fair share of individuals who have shuffled off this mortal coil via the route of drug overdose over the years. It just gets uglier and uglier in this drug addled society we now live in. Sad to say, the problem appears to be exponentially increasing in today's world and those of us left to survive the ravages of such a death are left to mourn the tragedy of such losses.

We cannot live another's life for them. It would be unconscionable to even try. The best one can do for one who dabbles at drug addiction is to take care not to become their enabler. Many do, without realizing it, as they reach out to help them in their crisis of faith in themselves. It is difficult to fight their extreme without getting sucked into it beyond the capacity to do good.

Providing sanctuary as long as they are clean and opportunity as long as they are productive is as far as one can go in aid of them. The rest is up to them and one need not have a sense of failure or guilt if they regress back into their self destructive mode.

There are too many good people in this world in need of a helping hand to be wasting one's time and energies on those who are not as serious about recovery as the people from whom they are requesting aid. Reality may bite but it better serves the truly productive to succumb to it rather than those who waste the resources of the truly helpful few.

One would hope you learn to take solace in the truth of that if the object of your aid should fail.

Yea I do it's a very scary thing....The only answer is himself....he is the only person who can help himself......It's so sad to see someone in that situation....I know the feeling you have...of helplessness, and wondering why.......can't he see that he's killing himself and he's not just hurting himself but those around him.....I'm so sorry and I hope that he gets the help and takes it...best of wishes....I'll keep you guys in my prayers:)

sucks.

Jesus