OT: please get help with addiction if you need it [sticky]

My cousin died of organ failure after fighting a heroin addiction for 10 years in 2018. It was awful for his immediate family and I hope Erik's post deters someone from doing what he did to himself and his family.

Thank you for posting this, and I am sorry for your loss. Too many have had to face this. The US set a record for drug overdoses last year--a 30% increase over the previous number. 93,000. 

We shouldn't only admonish our loved ones to get help. We should help them get that help and never give up on them. Addiction is a disease and deserving of as much support as any other medical condition. 

For those with opioid addiction, there are miracle medications out there that can reduce risk of overdose death by over 50%.

Suboxone (buprenorphine) can be prescribed on an outpatient basis, like any other medication. Find a prescriber near you  here: https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment/practitioner-program-data/treatment-practitioner-locator

My prayers are with you and your family.

I've been an alcoholic/addict for 30 years in daily recovery and I've seen friends fall. Watched a man with 10 percent liver function fight like a mad dog to be allowed to drink until he had 5 percent left and then quit. He never did.

Even at my very worst, I laughed at the idea that I needed help.

Never assume that the person you care about will understand their own suffering.

Please, if people you care about express concern about your use, don't dismiss it. Even if your monster inside sneers at them, take a chance on yourself.

Those left behind, there is no solace. But, please know that you are not to blame. I understand that makes the grief no less.

Sorry for your loss man. Praying for you and your family. 

I'm really sorry to hear that, Erik. We're all living through a very challenging time right now, especially those with issues related to substance abuse and addiction. It's important, now more than ever, to check in and be kind to one another. Like Erik said, it can get better, if you can just hang in there through your darkest hour, and don't be ashamed to ask for help. Everybody brightens a life for somebody, and none of us are as alone as we feel sometimes.

I'm very sorry to hear about your friend, Erik. It's truly a gut punch that sucks the air out of the room. Take care and be safe everybody.

I'm very sorry for your loss Erik.

I've struggled with addiction most of my adult life. 

I've been sober for about 5 years and everyday remains a struggle. Most days are great and I'd never use again, but then I'll have that one day that thoughts of using consume me and even if I don't use those thoughts just sit there and yell at me. 

Depression / addiction ain't no joke man. 

Sorry for your loss

I'm sorry for your loss, Erik. I lost an old friend the other day as well. I don't even know circumstances because the family hasn't spoken about it publicly yet. You and yours are in my prayers.

Yep.

Neck deep in this with a couple of people right now. It’s destruction and poison. You can’t just get better on your own; there is help, and it’s important to seek it. 

Sending condolences. Wishing that family and friends are helping smooth the pain.

Sorry for your loss. I live in the opiate overdose capital of the country. In the past 20 years I have personally known probably 50 people that have died. 

You can get help and get your life back on track. I've seen it, it's not easy but you can do it!! Just take that first step 

My brother is a recovering opioid addict and alcoholic. He attends support groups with https://recoverydharma.org/.

He finds it very supportive and accepting while also appropriately challenging. He was averse to some of the ideals of the traditional 12 step program, but found that this suits him well. I share this just so others know there are more than one support option.

As with another poster, he became addicted to a pain killer he was prescribed for chronic pain. It became evident he was addicted when he began stealing pain killers from my mother, among other less visible warning signs we had missed initially.

We got together as a family and walked with him through the process. It has been a long tough road for him but he is doing very well today. He admitted himself to a rehab clinic and as I mentioned followed it up with a support group. 

To all of you facing addiction, are supporting loved ones with addictions, and who have suffered losses, my heart is with you. 

I'm so sorry to hear about all the struggles here, and for your loss, Erik. I hope those of you who need help find a way to it. Though I haven't experienced addiction, I do have mental illness in my family. My father was hospitalized twice, in the psych ward for six and three months respectively. These are difficult issues and support is so important, for the person suffering and those who support that person, too. 

So sorry for your loss, addiction sucks.  

My uncle died 14 years ago this month from alcoholism.  Literally drank himself to death.  He lost everything due to his alcoholism - wife, job, friends.  

Very sorry for your loss, Erik!

Gambling can be included along with drugs. Gambling can cause the same financial, emotional, and mental problems that drugs cause. 

I’m sorry for your loss.  I’m a recovering alcoholic myself.  My name is Brendan.  My cell is 630-815-9004. If anyone on here ever needs help I am a phone call away.  Pick up the phone and ask for help. Asking for help is a strength not a weakness.  You hold the remote.  I’m not even sure if it is allowed to post my number on here but I take my recovery very seriously, and I have a duty to help others in need. 

If the mods want to delete this go ahead. I am just not sure where else to turn right now. It has been a weird couple of weeks. Some stuff that happened in my wife’s family really threw me for a loop. Also I have Asperger’s syndrome and I just feel overwhelmed right now. Everything is so exhausting. It is extremely difficult for me to deal with people. In the end I stay up late and drink because it just helps me feel normal. I am just not sure I can keep going. Every day is a struggle. I spend a lot of time alone because social situations are too overwhelming and difficult and the isolation is getting to me. I just want to be normal. 

So sorry about your loss. I too lost someone I was very close to almost 6 years now to an overdose. It's hard to not beat yourself up over the what ifs but don't allow that to consume you. Here's hoping people see your post and take the big step for change and maybe save a life. Hugs to you 

Rob, thank you for allowing this to stay alive. 

Just lost a classmate Saturday night. We all went to HS together and played basketball. He was a fellow Michigan fan. He got to see Michigan win the Big 10. He then decided to party a little too much. He was a good dude, but this all happens way too much.  It's heartbreaking to read what his son wrote to him. Please get help, please reach out. You are not alone. 

Just seeing this now. 

Erik, so sorry for your loss. I know sometimes time only dulls the sting of a loss.

And thank you for posting this, breaking isolation & potentially helping others.

Hope you've found some peace, and moments of hope for others, and meaning.

If you or someone you know needs help, due to COVID, there are now many on-line support groups that are easy to access. A lot of the people I work with that are struggling with addiction claim they are helpful and enjoy them more than in person meeting.

    The one I have provided a link has a ton of information for both the addict and the family/friends of the addict with online support groups for both. Since this is a sports site, I am sure most are familiar with Chris Herren and his story, of how his drug addiction affected his NBA career. If you have not seen it, I encourage all to watch his special they had on him on ESPN. The Herren project is his program. For any teachers on that see this, he does incredible work with high schools providing resources and in-person assemblies. 

https://herrenproject.org/

My best friend from high school, whom I’ve lost touch with the last few years, killed himself this last week with Xanax and alcohol after years of drinking himself to death.  
 

He was a fantastic high school football player and wrestler.  He wasn’t quite big enough or fast enough to play D1 ball and had to quit to take care of family obligations after transferring to a D2 school and playing there.  Not making it or at least not getting to see if he really could make it was crushing to him.  

I feel awful that we grew apart over the decades and that I wasn’t there for him. I was going to call him a couple of weeks ago and even looked up his phone number in an old email, but I didn’t call.

  I feel for all of the players who don’t start or don’t get to play.  I feel for the adults who don’t make the next level in their jobs or personal lives.  If you’re struggling please reach out.

I lost a friend to alcohol this morning. Don’t know how to feel. It’s rough.