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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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My husband is a cocaine addict.

201 replies

Mbshell · 01/03/2018 05:26

Hi there, I’m after some advice. My story is very long and complicated so I’m going to try and keep it as simple as possible by highlighting the main points.

I’ve been with my husband for 16 years married for nearly 10, we have 4 great kids aged 7-16, he is the most amazing person, brilliant father and husband you could wish for. He will do anything for anyone, however, nearly 4 years ago I noticed a few subtle changes. One night I caught him on his phone in the middle of the night hiding it, I thought he must be having an affair ‘obviously’ But It came out he was talking to a dealer who was dropping two bags of cocaine off round my back garden. I actually was sick with rage. I literally couldn’t believe what I was seeing. He was pretty much tea total a complete fitness freak and here he was taking cocaine whilst me and my kids were in bed. I threw him out and he went to stay with his family who live away. I only told a few close family members not my parents as I didn’t want it to make them ill with worry. He confessed to taking it once at a Christmas work party and liked it, because he doesn’t go out drinking he told me he bought it once a month when he got paid and took it on a Thursday night when we were all in bed. Knowing it would be out of his system by the Monday for work. I took him to counselling where the women didn’t think once a month was that much of an issue and told me that life was hard. I thought “yes but most people I know don’t turn to hard drugs”

Anyway he was diagnosed with clinical depression, he was so sickened by what he’d done to us that him made him feel worse! I stuck by him and supported him. Then he got a bad back the drs drugged him full of opiates, it become obviously quickly that he’d gone from cocaine to being addicted to prescription drugs. This caused massive conflict as I was always suspicious of what he’d taken whether it be too much tramadol or coke again. In between I found messages in his friend of him asking if he could get hold of any coke, I went to buy a cat and found a empty bag of coke in the cat carrier. He was adamant it was from ages ago but I knew he was lying. I’d shout at him, he’d get defensive and we’ve had periods where we don’t talk to each other for a week at a time as I’m paranoid of what he’s doing.

After a massive row nye he said he hadn’t felt well for so long, he hated his job, he never felt anything positive and didn’t feel love towards me or the kids, or anyone. About a year ago he started being mentally abusive towards me about people I’d slept with before I met him, hounding me about it even though I’d told him everything before I met him, I’ve been with 12 men not a huge amount, but suddenly it was a massive problem. He left me feeling dirty and ashamed. I knew he was in a bad place so he had a month off work to get himself sorted, the dr prescribed him strong antidepressants and this time he vowed to stick with them. He refused any alcohol even though he’s not a big drinker, and agreed to try and not abuse any prescription drugs, so I finally thought this was it. I had a few weeks where I had my old husband back. I was ill for the whole of January and he cared for me so well, he bombarded me with messages telling me how much he loved me and he was happy in his new role at work. I genuinely thought we’d tirned a corner.

Fast forward to last Friday, we discovered I was pregnant (unplanned) I was freaking out because we were only just getting sorted. He told me everything would be fine and that the baby was made from love and it might be the kick he needed to stick with recovery. Then an hour later he went out to buy me and the kids some dinner and he’d only been gone 30 minutes. He came back off his face! When I questioned him he lied so I told him it was it, that I was gonna get rid of the baby as I could t see my life ever getting better when he does crap like this.

He slept on the sofa, I came down to him still asleep, he’d drank nearly a whole bottle of wine and 4 bottles of beer. I then checked his fb and he’d blocked me and set his profile to single. I was so mad at his behaviour that I threw a mug at him which hit him on the head. I told him to leave.

He went to stay at a friends, I found a empty pen with snot on and two rolled up bits of bloody tissue in my back garden, underneath my bathroom window in the back garden. He was obviously taking it all night and when I walked in threw the evidence out of the window. I told my mum and dad everything about the drugs and literally most people I know, as I’m fed up of always being made out to be the monster for me always kicking him out. Because my husband ( off drugs) is such a lovely bloke, people have trouble believing what I’m telling them. But I feel ike I need all the support I can get.

I messaged him to find out what the hell hes doing? And he has literally changed to someone I don’t know, he is defensive, almost avoiding the coke questions, he refuses to tell me where he gets it from or how often he uses. He says it’s bad anyway so what’s the point in talking about it. He also was more upset that I threw a mug at him as apparently that was unacceptable. He’s looking for a house share and had made contact with the drug counsellor again, (as we have a mortgage which is in his name) I found out he’s legal to pay for it with me and the kids to stay in til our youngest child is 18. It’s all a huge mess at the minute, the problem is I love him so much! Despite everything I know this is not the real him. The thought of him doing anything to upset me when he’s well would make him cry. At the minute I text him to tell him that my world has fallen apart again and I don’t think I can ever trust him again and all he texts me back is “well that was your choice to keep having me back, you didn’t have to. I can’t be arsed with you keep hounding me about it” he finally admitted to taking cocaine and buying it when he went to get dinner, the dealer must live close. The reason he gave was like a celebration about the baby, which Id find laughable if I wasn’t so upset. I just can’t understand. He said an urge will just come over him and he can’t do anything to stop it. Not anything! Not me threatening to leave not him dying nothing!

I don’t know what to do about the baby, I feel that I’ll keep it regardless as it’s not the baby’s fault either, I really hope he can get the help but I can’t have him back living in our house until I know he’s 100% clean when that will be I don’t know. I’m scared in case he can’t be bothered and living on his own might make him worse, I’m also worried that he might go with someone else as that for me would be the nail in the coffin. I can’t stop crying, I can’t eat, or sleep. If this baby survives it will be a miracle.

Sorry it’s so long winded. But any advice would be amazing

OP posts:
Mrsfloss · 02/03/2018 00:28

Senfing FlowersCake

I have recently found this thread helpful and wish I was as strong!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/3072432-So-this-is-it-then

mathanxiety · 02/03/2018 00:37

I asked him if him moving into shared accommodation was a good idea, because it may make him worse, he may take more often as there will be no one watching, he might end up losing his job, etc.

OP, stop getting involved in this man's life. Don't take the bait he dangles in front of you.

When he starts in on you for throwing him out, threatens suicide, complains that you throwing him out was unjustified, refers to the mug throwing, tell him you are sorry he feels this way, tell him yes, that's quite a problem he has on his hands, but you are confident he will figure something out.

Back right off. You are not responsible for solving his practical problems or dealing in any way with his addiction.

If he threatens suicide, hang up, call 999, and direct an ambulance to where he is.

You need to take some steps to safeguard your rights to your home.
You need a solicitor asap.

rightsofwomen.org.uk/get-information/family-law/marriage-your-rights-to-your-home/

How do I register my matrimonial home rights?

There are different procedures for registered and unregistered property when applying to register home rights.

Registered property means the Land Registry holds a register of the property which includes details such as who owns the property. You can see the register by requesting official copies. To check whether you own the property you should contact the Land Registry and ask to see the official copy for the property.

Unregistered property means details of the property are not held in a register by the Land Registry, but kept in separate documents. These documents are called title deeds. The title deeds will show who owns the property. Title deeds will normally be held by your mortgage provider. If you do not have a mortgage the title deeds should be with an owner or may be held by a solicitor.

Most properties today are registered. You can check with the Land Registry to see if your family home is registered.

If the family home is registered:

If the family home is registered, you can register your home rights by completing the form: notice of home rights: application (HR1) and sending this to the Land Registry. At the time this guide was written, there is no fee for this application. However, you should contact the Land Registry for the latest information on fees. If there is no fee then you can enter £0.00 or “no fee” in the box on the form that asks you for the fee.

You may need an occupation order.

I would definitely bar him from coming to DD's birthday celebration.

Mbshell, the hatred that you saw that shocked you so much is the real him. It is the reality that you are dealing with.

This man is not your friend any more, and you need to stop trying to be his. From now on you have to be single mindedly dedicated to your own and your children's best interests and only that.

You need to shake off the idea that he is any different or that there is a real him lurking somewhere underneath. In particular you need to dump immediately any idea that he will be motivated by any concern for you and for the children, that there is anything you can say or do that will make him value anything more than he values coke right now or possibly ever. You are simply not that special to him at all, and neither are the children.

Sorry to be so blunt.

But he has chosen cocaine over every single other thing in this life, on this earth. He chose it years ago. This is the real him that you are dealing with.

MsGameandWatching · 02/03/2018 00:40

Ive never read such a load of utter shit cascada. Your posts disgust me.

OP please ignore this person. They clearly have no idea what life with an addict is. I do and was taken right back to the desperation I felt when I was living with an alcoholic drug user. This will get worse before it gets better as he speaks further down. You HAVE done the right thing. I lived with an addict for 8 years and my mental health was in shreds by the end. I only wish I had done it sooner.

MsGameandWatching · 02/03/2018 00:42

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Nanny0gg · 02/03/2018 01:10

She ripped apart their family long before his drug use became a problem. She discovered he was using cocaine harmlessly and responsibly, then she went nuts and destroyed their lives. He reacted poorly to that, as would anyone.

CascadaClassic You are monumentally stupid. You don't use cocaine 'harmlessly' or 'responsibly' , she wasn't an alcoholic and it wasn't the OP who has destroyed their lives.

Booboobooboo84 · 02/03/2018 08:24

There’s no such thing as harmless recreational drugs cos you never know what the fuck your taking plain and simple.

I can’t believe what some people are saying to the OP. No the violence wasn’t acceptable at all. But it doesn’t make you a terrible person. Nor does it negate what he’s done.

You need to look into the grey rock method. He is feeding off your distress

SillySallySingsSongs · 02/03/2018 08:31

I found out he’s legal to pay for it with me and the and kids to stay in til our youngest child is 18

This really isn't true.

You need legal advice

RoadToRivendell · 02/03/2018 08:35

OP, I feel that I have a fairly measured view of cocaine (I know lots of people who use it socially) and I've seen that it's an extremely difficult habit to kick once it's woven into your daily life. People will tell you that it's not addictive, but it is.

I suggest Alanon and a solicitor.

Nesssie · 02/03/2018 11:51

She ripped apart their family long before his drug use became a problem. She discovered he was using cocaine harmlessly and responsibly, then she went nuts and destroyed their lives. He reacted poorly to that, as would anyone.

^And that is exactly something a drug addict in denial would say... Blaming others, playing down the problem etc.

CascadaClassic · 02/03/2018 12:19

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MsGameandWatching · 02/03/2018 12:25

No, let's not. It's irrelevant and really quite crass on a thread such this, in line with the rest of your posts.

CascadaClassic · 02/03/2018 12:29

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Trunkisareshite · 02/03/2018 12:39

I know it’s not the done this to say but if I was regularly taking coke in the house with my kids in it I’d expect more that a mug thrown at my head.

OP you can’t help someone who doesn’t want to be helped. It’s a cliche but it’s true. You need to focus to making a life for you and your kids without your husband in it. Who knows what the future may bring but for now your priority has to be your kids and your own safety and well being. Good luck.

MsGameandWatching · 02/03/2018 12:48

Oh, so you want to call me a "complete fucking idiot" but you don't want to back it up? That says it all about your station in life.

You are an idiot and your further posts confirm it. You've made a complete fool of yourself on this thread and continue to do so with your clownish requests to compare academic achievements Grin

CascadaClassic · 02/03/2018 12:54

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MsGameandWatching · 02/03/2018 12:55

I did no such thing. You do realise that everyone can read all the posts and follow the discussion don't you? Because it kind of seems like you don't Confused.

I'm glad you've quoted me there in a previous post you know, as my original post was deleted but thanks to you it still stands Smile

CascadaClassic · 02/03/2018 12:59

MsGameAndWatching

Oh dear... You don't seem to understand that you've made your position in life perfectly clear. Hope your circumstances improve in the future, but lashing out at people online isn't going to help.

RoadToRivendell · 02/03/2018 13:00

CascadaClassic I doubt very much that the OP's husband is doing coke 1x month. I gather you've based this on what he's told his wife?

CascadaClassic · 02/03/2018 13:03

RoadToRivendell From what OP has said, he was originally doing coke 1x a month, but casual usage turned into problem usage when his home life became unstable. OP has said the same thing has happened with her own drinking habits.

MsGameandWatching · 02/03/2018 13:04

I'm afraid you won't get me to bite and start defending myself against your assertions. Too much experience with toxic types I suppose. I'm really enjoying watching you frothing and making such a fool of yourself though Wink

RoadToRivendell · 02/03/2018 13:08

Very few who having text exchanges with a dealer in the middle of the night would be doing coke once monthly. That's the kind of maniacal behaviour you'd expect from a habitual user.

CascadaClassic · 02/03/2018 13:13

MsGameandWatching

As I say, you've made your position in life very clear.

RoadToRivendell

He was purchasing it. As I understand it (never used drugs myself) that's how it is arranged.

MsGameandWatching · 02/03/2018 13:14

Maybe he was trying to avoid a delivery charge when he asked his dealer to drop TWO bags off in the middle of the night? Probably going to save one for the following month. We should applaud him for being so economically minded 👏

MsGameandWatching · 02/03/2018 13:15

As I say, you've made your position in life very clear.

As have you.

maxthemartian · 02/03/2018 13:19

OP please pay no attention to the very sad unpleasant troll attempting to derail. I only hope they get the help they need.