Tough Love and the Consequences

All last year my youngest son who is 21 was addicted to Oxycontin. He has degenerative back disease, and was prescibed Vicodin the year before...when they took him off the Vicodin, he was still addicted to it, so, he went out looking for anything to help the pain.
He had money, so the drug dealers in our small town looked him up...needless to say he tried, last summer to get off of them, and it didnt work, and he lied to me and told me he was off...he even reached the point of selling his truck, his motorcycle, and many of his own possessions...I knew, in my heart, he was buying Oxys, so I kicked him out to another town to live on his own.
That didnt work.He kept coming back here to visit, didnt pay his bills, and borrowed money from people..
This is how this drug works. It takes over the once good kid and makes him so dependent he turns into someone you dont know.
I finally told him, after he stole something from my garage, that he better never come over again or Ill have him arrested...and I did call the cops (a friend of mine), who also let him know this.
He hasnt been back...I gave him the number of the Rehab Center and the Hospital before he left. Boy was he mad. I told him "You can choose between your family and your drug".
He came home last night crying and begging me and my other son , who was visiting, to take him to Rehab...he was in withdrawal and terrified. My oldest son took him to Rehab, and to the ER, where, I hope this is the start of his coming back to us as the son we remember.
I still wont allow him into my house or on my property until he is drug free and has seriously gone thru Rehabilitation.
I never knew how hard tough love was, but it was the only thing I could do to save his life, and save mine.'
Keep those good thoughts going his way that he will come out of this drug free.
Thanks.
(Top this off with my stepson going to Iraq soon and you can imagine how tired my husband and I are.)

Mari, that sounds really tough. Really, really tough. My heart goes out to you.


Cher

I know this is tough. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.