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*idden06
writes: I'm not sure if this is the place to ask, but maybe you can direct me. I have a 33 year old sister who is addicted to ice meth and has has 2 children. Children Protective Services will not help unless the children are being physically abused. We've already tried to report it several times with no help. She has turned her back on her closest family and friends, shows a lot of hate, and she is now physically showing signs of the drug use. Since she is a college graduate and a school teacher, she has manipulated several people in believing she has a lot of stress, or cancer, or got cream damage on her face because she always has sores--the stores always change. I heard that there may be some underground type help to force her into a program. Does anyone know anything about this. She will not get any help, but the family wants to do something drastic to help her now. Reply to this Question
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female
reader, eidden06 +, writes (28 November 2006):
eidden06 is verified as being by the original poster of the questionA few of you took the time to response and wanted to update you. Children Protective Services is finally taking action and I know have my nephew and the father has my niece. I'm on my way in a few min. to take my nephew to CPS for an interview. As far as my sister, she carries on as she is just fine, but she has lost her job, her kids, and on her way to loose her house. I'm hoping and praying that CPS will require her to get help.
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female
reader, eyeswideopen  +, writes (20 October 2006):
 Check and see if there are any Intervention programs in your area. These of course work best if the addict has reached a low and can be convinced they need to go into rehab. Just another suggestion, hope things work out for your family.
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reader, BeckaR +, writes (20 October 2006):
 A few points...Don't depend on her going to rehab if you call the police. Jail is not the right place to get treatment for an addiction, but it does sometimes work to keep people a little more safe than they are keeping themselves. Jail is a horrible place for someone that is going to detox and I can almost guarantee that she will get no rehab what-so-ever. Detention centres and jails generally take the "Cold turkey learn your lesson" type treatment approach. Look into it a bit more before you call the cops.
As far as how she is ingesting it, it doesn't matter. No matter how she is doing it, it is bad and taking its toll. Protective Services will not take a child from a drug users home unless you can prove that the children are being neglected or abused in anyway. If you know that this is happening, make sure you document it. I am sure that it works differently here than it does in America so I can't get into the logistics of how to go about it for you, but you could always call a treatment centre or something along those lines and ask them what your rights are, what her rights are and what the rights of the children are in this situation. Call someone local to you because they will know the laws and regulations for that area. Also make sure you ask them what you can do to help her get help.
In the mean time, get information for her on how to use safely. Make sure she is using clean rigs (needles) or pipes so that she is reducing the risk of harming herself. Call a local health centre to find out if there is a needle exchange program or an agency that supports a harm reduction approach in your area and they can help with that.
Take Care and I hope that this helps. Keep in mind that everyone makes choices and she has a right to make this choice unfortunately.
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reader, anonymous, writes (20 October 2006): Hey again, I wrote about the national geographic show. This is their blog on the show and there are a lot of people on here sharing stories and information. Maybe this can also help you. http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/channel/blog/2006/10/explorer_drug.html
As I said before, good luck to you and your sister! =)
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reader, eidden06 +, writes (20 October 2006):
eidden06 is verified as being by the original poster of the questionHi Dr. Pete, thanks for the quick reply. To answer your question, she has been hooked for about 1 1/2 years. She shows many signs of paranoia and is extremely tiny. She's lost at least 50 pounds in the last 6 months. The bones in her shoulder blades, and face are protuding, and has hair loss--she's scary to look at. However, she covers it up the best that she can with make-up and nice clothes. You mentioned to refer to the internet--is there a particular place you recommend. I'm in Northern California--Monterey County area. Thanks again.
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reader, anonymous, writes (19 October 2006): Sorry if this seems like a dumb suggestion but couldn't you call the cops and tell them that you know someone who keeps meth in their home? You could say that you think they have intent of distributing it and they might go over and check it out. Ofcourse this means if any is found your sister will go to jail, but they can take her to rehab and make sure she stays there. There was also a show on National Geographic last night on meth which was very informative. There is this website: http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/DrugIssue/MethResources/default.html
If you live in the US it might help you out. Good luck to you and your family. =)
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reader, anonymous, writes (19 October 2006): I know a fair bit about crystal meth (speed / yabba / ice) and I know people who take it, some recreationally but some who are addicts and two who have died from it.
It is one of the strongest types of amphetamines (and ice, in particular, is even more stronger than normal speed) out there (for the drugs innocent, imagine drinking coffee, but it being about 1000 times stronger - it keeping you up for days on end, but it being so strong you are completely overwhelmed by it, mentally and physically)
How is your sister ingesting it? This makes a big difference. If she is injecting, she is risking her life and social protective services need to take her children away from her straight away.
If she is smoking it, snorting it or swallowing it, it is not quite as bad. Smoking is slightly worst because the smoke particles are very heavy and I've known peoples lungs to collapse.
If you use Amphetamines regularly, you will develop something called Amphetamine Psychosis. This is a real psychosis that can lead to you being sectioned in hospital, you become paranoid, aggressive, erratic and sometimes suicidal.
You also completely stop eating when you take amphetamines regularly. Even if you take it just once, it would be unlikely for you to eat for at least a couple of days. If you take it regularly, you will probably eat no more than once a week, when you literally have to because you are on the verge of collapsing.
Addiction: It is a VERY addictive drug, one of the most addictive I have come across, tolerance builds up quickly (so you have to take more) and "coming down" off amphetamine produces severe depression and just, well, the worst feeling you can ever imagine, you just want to die, it can take a good week to get over, and that's if you do it just once.
When you say she is addicted, how long has she been taking it? For a lot of people, it is usually just a phase. But if she has a proper addiction to it, I would suggest she is deeply unhappy about her past, something is causing her to hate herself so much she is self-harming herself. And there is no point forcing her in to any kind of rehab.
She needs to reach rock bottom before SHE can see that she needs help. All you can do is be patient, understanding, tell her you are concerned and to "be careful" and not "over do it" and just keep a very good eye on her.
She is not stupid - she knows how this drug is messing up her mind and body but she doesn't care about herself enough to do any thing about it. Show her love and concern, but don't patronise her telling her it's bad for her, she already knows that.
I hope things work out for her. If you need more reassurances about this drug, look it up on the Internet, or phone a support helpline and speak to someone trained who can give you more specific ways of dealing with this and information about the drug.
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reader, anonymous, writes (19 October 2006): Maybe go to your local Social Services department, and then seek further advice from there??
Hope this helps!
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