Heroin - Services in Dublin ?

Raven_k42

Folks
I'm a parent. My 19yo son has progressed from hash...to heroin. We believe only in the last 2-3 months. Anyway, it's now at the point he gets help...or he has to go. It would kill me if he decided not to want help...and left home...but I've a family to protect. He has a younger brother...he's agressive to us all...steals at home...can't/doesn't work...and I've had several recent visits to Cash Converters reclaiming things belonging to me, his Mom...and his brother. All our lives...first-and-foremost his...are in a state of shambles. Anyway, the "good" news is he says he wants to do something about it. Am I feeling guilty about not doing more sooner ??...of course I am and I suspect I'll always have regrets. But today is today.
Are the HSE clinics the only options available ??...can they work ??. I'm Dublin...7/9-ish. As he's prepared to try something...and I will do whatever I have to in support...I need to strike while the iron is hot. Like this coming Monday. He not only urgently needs to get off the heroin...but counselling. He's mixed-up anyway...that's why we're in this position. Is a GP only a part-solution ??. What options are there for him (and me) ??. I've even thought of "private" options...are there any ??.
Any help...or suggestions...would be greatly appreciated. This is unfamiliar territory for me...and perhaps I haven't done all I should have for him in the past...but I cannot afford to screw up this time.
Thanks a million,
K.

PS. There is an unbelievably moving thread (Ricey's) elsewhere in boards...about the same subject. It would have been wholly disrespectful to Ricey for me to add my question to his thread. Sorry if I'm perpetuating threads on the subject...but I'm in desperate need of luck. Thoughts with you Ricey.

seahorse

Raven_k42, I hope you'll believe me when I tell you that the very WORST thing you can do is have your son substitute his heroin addiction for methadone, which is what will happen if you get him signed up to a HSE clinic. He is only two or three months into his habit so there is still time. Methadone is about 100 times harder to come off than heroin and there isn't a methadone addict in Dublin who will tell you otherwise. The withdrawals from heroin last a couple of weeks, those from methadone last upwards of six months; that is why when people try to manage their addiction with methadone they generally end up methadone addicts for life.

I have the private mobile number of a woman who works with a group who will take your son in to a residential care centre and help him to come off heroin directly and you are more than welcome to have her number, I know she wouldnt mind. Just pm me and I'll pass it on to you. They are a Christian based charity and it is not mad money as most of it is subsidised by the group. Whatever you do for Gods sake don't go the methadone route Raven_k42; nine times out of ten it's a road that never ends and your son would most likely end up an addict for life.

FingersCrossed

I have no information for you, I'm afraid, but I just want to wish you the best of luck. He's a lucky lad to have a Dad like you. What your going through is every parents nightmare.

ricey

Hi

Im back again after another relapse and i can tell you now
the goverment are doing f all for addicts we all need to campain
to get something done!! For me to get off of heroin and go through
withdrawls i nhave to get my medacation on the STREET!! f the HSE
They are just a load of fools and its my opinion but thats what i think.
Something needs to be done and done NOW before our lovely county
becomes a totaly drug lords haven!! Im so so pissed at the mo and i wish
there was something i could say to make you feel better about your situation
but at this stage iv LOST ALL HOPE in the gov and the HSE.

snollup

Hello,

Firstly I'm sorry to hear about your situation. It must be a very distressing time for you and your family. I have some experience in this area...

The important thing is not to panic. Heroin is a drug just like alcohol or sleeping tablets. He has only been smoking for 2-3 months and is open to getting help. They are two huge pluses. In terms of options the GP is a good place to start. There are 2 elements to addiction that need to be addressed - physical and psychological. Physically heroin is very addictive so he does need a lot of support going through this process. After 2-3 months he probably isn't getting much of a hit out of it anymore, just using to stave off the withdrawls/sickness. There is a 10 day Lofexidine home detox that the HSE Addiction Service provide - this is appropriate where someone is smoking 1 bag a day or less and not injecting. Lofexidine is an opiate blocker and will help take the edge off the withdrawls. He, if found suitable, will also be prescribed sleeping tabs and sedatives. Furthermore, the programme includes daily supervision by a medical team and counselling. Ask your GP about this - Domville House, Ballymun Road, D9 run this detox (Ph: 8620111). I would advise you to consider Methadone as a very last resort - addictive and means loitering with other drug users. As far as I know there are big waiting lists to get onto Methadone treatment in your catchment area so Lofex could be the best option.

Next...the big challenge and often this is the one that can take months/years, but is wholly important, is to tackle the psychological cravings and reasons behind the need to escape reality. There are many addiction counsellors in Dublin, if you ring the Irish Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy they will give you a list. This would be good to start asap. Once his head is clear he can start to remove the people, places and things that trigger his use, but this is for down the road. NA meetings could also be an option, presume they have a website with the details.

For the moment it would be good to sit down with your son and have an honest discussion about the weeks ahead. Until he gets treatment he is going to use so why not be open and just try to limit it to 1-2 bags a day or whatever. It is extremly difficult just to stop taking heroin, notorious with painful physical withdrawls - sleeplessness, cramps, fluey type symptoms... I know that you must be angry to a degree with your son and have a need to protect your other children but try to remember that your son is sick at the moment. Lieing and stealing go hand in hand with addiction just like a temperature and a cough go with a chest infection. Try to tell him that you love him and will be with him as he tries to get his life back on track. This could be a blessing in a very big disguise as it may be the makings of him for the rest of his life.

Raven_k42

...just a quick note to FingersCrossed, ricey, seahorse and snollup...for taking the time to answer. We (my wife and I) had no-one to speak to about this...and no idea what to do...and the strength we both got from your replies is hard to describe. I'll post an update when the mist clears.

Thanks again,
K.