Have you ever had to have someone committed?
By eden32
@eden32 (3973)
United States
February 28, 2008 8:03am CST
One of my son's friends, a young man of 22, has a very serious drinking problem. I have known him for about 6 years now, and have never seen him sober. He has family that have tried to help him but he refuses to get help and like the saying goes- you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink or rather in this case stop drinking. He stopped by my home a couple times in the past few days & I realized he was really in bad shape medically. Then he came here last night, the short version of the story- he was throwing up blood, and passed out. I had my son help me get him in the car & I brought him to the ER. He's still having tests run to find where the blood is coming from, his blood alcohol level was so high they couldn't even do some of the testing needed until it came down. He's still not sober, but it's been 7 hours so he's not rip-roaring drunk now. He is going back & forth between cooperating & saying he's going to leave as soon as he can. Again, his blood alcohol level is so high they can actually hold him against his will until it comes down. I'm hoping that he chooses to stay & get help even when he can technically leave later in the day. His family is trying to talk him into staying too. I'm going to suggest to his family that if he doesn't go into treatment willingly, that they petition the court to have him "sectioned". Massachusetts has a procedure by which a judge orders you into a 30 day program. I have such mixed feelings about that, if he doesn't want help all the help in the world won't make a difference. Adults should be allowed to do whatever stupid thing they wish to do, so long of course as it's not hurting anyone but themselves. But he's in such very bad shape, barely able to think logically at this point, barely understanding that he's in a hospital because he is in a very serious & dangerous condition, that it's like he's not "choosing" this anyway. His addiction, not him is in the drivers seat & his addiction doesn't care if he dies. I guess I feel like if he does 30 days, and then chooses to go right back to drinking then I at least tried to get him help. If I don't suggest this to his family & he checks himself out of the hospital & dies, it will be on my conscience for the rest of my life.
Have you ever been in a similar situation? Or have you been the subject of an 'intervention'? Did it help? Did it get worse after?
1 response
@bitzlee (1)
•
28 Feb 08
dear eden
how terrible for you.but i assure you you did the right thing.
2 years ago my chap overdosed on booze , he was a danger to
himself and others and the police were called in the end.
chris was in a very bad way and i finally made the decision to
have him sectioned and i must say it broke my heart. but chris
had no idea of the state he was in and spent the 1st month fighting
and in denial also making a lot of promisse he would not keep.
in the end he stayed 4 months and when he came home was in a dark
depression for months
now?.....he is a different person older and wiser with an air of
sadness.
so many people wanted chris to come home unaware as you say the addiction drives him . there is no quick fix but time, patience
and medical help.
chris takes anti drinking pills now.....he will vomit if he drinks.most important thing is not to expect too much. perhaps
you could get one of the doctors to talk to his parents?
chri,s parents buried their heads in the sand so i had to
get him sectioned and felt very guilty for a long time.
this young man needs your help .....tough love is the only thing
that helps.
i wish you luck and
1 person likes this
@eden32 (3973)
• United States
28 Feb 08
Thank you so much for sharing all this. His mother lives out of state, although not very far from here (we're in Mass, she's in Maine). She hasn't come down yet, but I hope she realizes just how serious this is & gets here soon. His girlfriend was at the hospital last I knew. She seems to be a reasonable person & I think she does see how bad his condition is. I'm holding out hope that she's able to talk him into going on his own. I've had some experience with the section route before, and the "rehab" they use for court ordered cases is really lacking in services. The private rehabs seem to provide more comprehensive care & I hope he chooses that route.
