Question by jsa312924: My son is in a drug rehab. I have some questions, please.?
My son is in a Drug and Alcohol Rehab and has been for 3 months. To work the program, he is looking at 18 months to complete it. So far he is doing good, but often gets depressed. He was addicted to Crack. Crystal Meth and Alcohol. I am not at all familiar with the drugs. If he completes the 18 months, what is the likelihood that he will go back on drugs and what are the long term side effects on his mind and body? He was using for 8 years. And I haven’t seen him in 8 years because of this. We talk on the phone and I send him what he needs until he is own his own. Can someone enlighten me on the chance of getting my ole son back to normal? Thanks so much!
I forgot to mention that my son is 32.
Where my son is, they will not give him any medications. They do not believe in it.
Best answer:
Answer by paws4shy
Better Rehab then jail. My son is 29 now and did alot of dumb stuff when 20 but instead of Rehab he was sent to jail 4 / 4 months . Now he has a record and has a hell of a time holding down a job or for that matter even getting a good job. He has gone straight and stayed away from drugs and trouble but he does bounce at a bar (one of the few jobs he can get) so he is always around alcohol. The best thing you could do is bring home to stay with you when he gets out. That way he has to make NEW friends and CAN’T go back to his old ones THAT IS IMPORTANT> Good Luck you can write me back if you have any questions>
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People who are addicts will always be addicts. There is a higher chance that he will use again than that he never will use again. BUT that’s not to say that you should give up. It will be a struggle for him a daily, hourly, by the minute, by the second struggle to stay clean. Keeping this in mind if/when he does slip the best thing to do is to admit it to someone and figure out what the trigger was-stress, depression, etc. Also, in my opinion it is really really important for addicts to get on antidepressant/anxiety meds while in recovery. His brain has been damaged from the drugs and these rx drugs will help him to at least be on a more level playing field with everyone else. Plus if you’re anxious/depressed you’re more likely to use again-often these symptoms are what spurs the addiction in the first place. Support is what he needs now, as many clean and sober people as possible to be there for him and to tell him how it is if he needs it, to love and encourage him, to tell him that he has a worth as a person and he can achieve what he wants. I wish him and you the best of luck addiction is a hard thing for the addict and those who love him/her.
OK my husband was on cocaine and I thought I was going to loose my mind !He was using along time before I found out ,his heart almost burst and he was in the intensive care .I really went thru alot .I really am sorry for you !Yes there is always hope thru God .My husband is clean now almost a year .Now your son fear of relapse is a fear his only answer’s are to change his whole life ,people ,places ,things .my husband had to learn the hard way he had to leave the old along ,Your son was using some very powerful drugs so it will be very hard for him .But I was told that he needed family support but not to enable them by making things easier for him .tough love !!Why have you not seen him in that long ?He needs his family to help him but he also has to want it for himself ,If he is serious about this he can beat it .He will be in our prayers and you hang in there ,it’s a awful thing for the family to I was in a awful mess .Normal I don’t think they ever are totally normal again ,they seem to always crave the drugs .I went to meetings with my husband and for him the meetings was a joke cause he didn’t want to stop he went because of me .The whole thing is about is he doing this because he wanted help or to please others ,He has to want help !Best to you and we will be praying
Definitely look into and start attending meetings of the local Al-Anon chapter. It will help you SO much to be able to talk to others who have been through this and to have a support network that’s anonymous and that really understands your situation.
Long term side effects vary based on the person’s health and how much/how often they were using. Try not to think that far ahead for now – deal with the day to day. Relapse is a constant battle and a definite possibility – prepare yourself for that, and know that it isn’t because he WANTS to. Drugs are such a powerful thing – they take away a person’s control and ability to reason. Lots of prayers and Al Anon meetings – that’s what got us through.
18 months of rehab is going to help quiet a bit. They will teach him how to deal with the issues at hand and what to do when the craving is really high. The chances of your son staying clean are good but I will warn you that he might lapse every once in a while and when he does help him go back to rehab. So they can help him with the tools they have. I know you are a parent who wishes you could solve this for him but you can’t. The only way he is going to beat this is if he truely wants to and he has to do it for himself. You can give him the love and support that he is going to need. I can tell you it will be a bumpy road and it’s not going to be easy but just let him know you are there and you love him and that will help him get through this. I know from experience I was a drug addict and so was my brother. I helped him and he helped me so it was great to have that support and it was what helped get us through it. Good luck to you and your son.