Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

anyone with experience?

3 replies

fbtfw · 15/06/2025 16:45

just wondering if anyone has been through similar because i'm not sure what to do anymore.

my son got addicted to heroin about two years ago, he went on holiday abroad and came back an addict (met a girl online who was on it and went to stay with her) I had no clue about this at the time (son is in his 20s and lives alone) I only found out about it when he got back.

Since then he has sold everything he once owned, small things to his kettle and toaster to big things such as his cooker, fridge, sofa, its now literally a bare flat with a chair in it. needles all over the place, neighbours rightly complaining, he has stopped paying his bills, stopped buying his food shopping, abandoned his almost elderly cat and is showing up to various family members houses asking for money up to six times a day even when we say we have no money to give. also been arrested a few times and bailed etc. he has even started saying 'pay me to go away'

i hate giving him money because I know where it's going, another family member gives him money all the time thinking if he chooses to buy it its on him, other family members have walked away as they can't cope anymore.

Everything out of his mouth is a lie and we don't have an endless supply of money to just keep giving him, hes asking for food because he's starving five times a day, coming for a drink, coming for money, he is getting aggressive and won't stop coming.

stuck in a loop of calling the police to him getting let go to calling the police..

its causing arguments between me and the family members that give him money, he even owes money to my neighbour who just happens to be a heroin addict who has taken to giving them him for nothing then charging loads more on top for every day he doesn't pay him back.

anyone else been through similar?

OP posts:
HeyWiggle · 16/06/2025 01:02

give him a bag of food or a supermarket voucher. Say no to requests for cash. Ask everyone else to do the same. Call the police if he becomes heightened.

HeyWiggle · 16/06/2025 01:03

Consistency is key

NoBinturongsHereMate · 16/06/2025 09:22

HeyWiggle · 16/06/2025 01:02

give him a bag of food or a supermarket voucher. Say no to requests for cash. Ask everyone else to do the same. Call the police if he becomes heightened.

Supermarket vouchers will be sold/swapped for drugs. As will food if he doesn't eat it then and there.

The people I kmow who've beaten addictions all say the same thing - giving help with money, food etc doesn't actually help, it only delays the inevitable. You have to let them fall. If you're lucky, when they've fallen far enough they will actually want to engage with rehab.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page