Why is it so hard to get addicts the treatment they need?

To the Times: There have been many stories printed with the huge heroin epidemic that is upon us and is continuing to get worse. Being a parent of an addict is one of the hardest lessons/position to be in. Trying to get him the help he needs with him being receptive has been horrible, dealing with many roadblocks through the state, counties, insurance and rehabs. Yes, they need to want the help and need to do it – a lot of times their brain isn’t working that well with all of the emotions/symptoms they are experiencing so I have stepped up to help.

Some would ask or say why. My response to that is I want my son to live. I don’t want him to be another statistic. I don’t always like my son. The truth is I love him; I don’t like the addiction. It is at times very difficult to separate the two and move forward. Things not being taken care of quickly, the process and many steps/ roadblocks/red tape do indeed frustrate me enough as for the addict they just tend to give up and use again as it is easier for them.

I am getting so many different stories and contradictory each time I speak to anyone involved whether it’s through the insurance company or rehab facility. There aren’t many kind compassionate people in the field who will actually help you with/through the process. You literally have to take a firm stand, push hard and fight for your loved one. Following a parent on this painful journey would be huge for many to actually see/understand.

Aside from watching your child, no matter what their age, and you can’t fix it, keeping balance in your life and emotions is so very hard. I still struggle with this, though I am starting to see more compassion in some which helps along the way. No matter how you fight, you never know when that call or visit will come — the one all parents of addicts dread.

I have actually witnessed a young man who came into a rehab at night to make that first step to get help. I saw on his face he had that haggard drug addict look, I have seen it within my own son many times. He wasn’t from the county and needed to get an assessment from the county he lived in. So, sadly he left the rehab at night and who knows what happened to him – most likely adding to the statistics. I can only imagine the strength it took him to walk into the rehab in the first place. I pray he made it through after that night, though I wouldn’t be surprised if he has passed on along with so many others along the way.

I can understand now, regretting that I do indeed know more and why there are more heroin deaths – if the addicts are having such problems as I am experiencing to get my son the help he needs and is receptive to they tend to give up.

I would be glad to share more as the painful journey continues. There are few and far between compassionate people in the field of addiction. When you find one hold onto them and trust them as they are worth their weight in gold and more. What knowledge I have acquired through this journey hasn’t been easy to deal with - especially the system - it is quite broken from the very beginning of an addict’s attempt to go for help. I continue to pray, things will change though honestly I don’t foresee that occurring any time soon.

Dealing with the addiction is traumatic enough, when that first step is made (which is monumental and never guaranteed as with anything in life) there are many hurdles they still must overcome along the way — the cravings, people, places they were used to surrounding themselves with and the whole process of any addict receiving the appropriate treatment is by far the hardest climb for many.

Every parent of an addicted son or daughter, my heart is with yours ... beating rapidly, praying for change and hoping endlessly for that light for the journey to change and become easier for everyone involved. Praying for the system to change ... making life and addiction help given in abundance rather than fighting tooth and nail to obtain what is truly needed.