bobo
bobo
Sep 4, 2018 · 2 min read

Thank you so much for your guidance and clarity of thought. As I read your post I feel that deep need to forward it on to my friends who have young children. (I have sent out part 2 as I read that first)

My wife and I have been dealing with an adult 35 year old daughter who is a drug addict. Like your son, our daughter has progressed in her drug dependency since her first year of college. The only peace we have had in 15 years was when the daughter went clean and sober for the first two years of her daughters life and a one year stay with Teen Challenge. Our one and only granddaughter is pretty much being raised by her other grandparents. Their son, the father, has the same ugly disease as our daughter and now has a criminal record. He just completed a several month rehab program and is living with his parents.

Like you, if I could have done so many things differently, those things you recommend, I would not feel as guilty as I do.

Our daughter is no longer welcome in our home, too much stress, theft and uncertainty. So like you we also have lost a child to drugs.

Just one last comment, the time to intercede in the young person life is before they reach legal age. Once they are adults you have no harness to pull them back. As far as getting mental help, for so many of us, there is no insurance, no State funds for a middle class family and no court system to help the addicts loved ones to make hard decisions on behalf of the addict. But that is subject for a different blog.

Thank you and I hope you can forgive yourself and make the most of your remaining family.

    bobo

    Written by

    bobo

    God Loving, Husband, Pancreatic Cancer Fighter, Avid Reader