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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that it is NOT OK for DH to pop a codeine tablet on a Sunday afternoon because he was bored, and not tell me about it?

62 replies

LineInTheSand · 14/08/2008 10:06

I noticed that one (now I can see two) tablets were missing late last night. I checked them because I was suspicious about whether he was taking tablets on the sly (a box of valium we got in Mexico on our honeymoon disappeared slowly despite his never telling me that he'd taken a tablet, and despite my never having taken one). I am particularly upset because (a) he didn't tell me; (b) he did it during the day when we were playing with our son, who is 16 months old; (c) we've been struggling with trust issues relating to his drinking problem, and just the day before he'd taken DS out and had a beer, and lied to me about it when I asked him if he was drinking a beer, and fessed up later when they got home (this despite a rule that he NEVER, EVER drink when DS is in his sole charge).

Sorry, this is getting long. I confronted him about it this morning. At first he was defensive, like it's no big deal. Then I convinced him that, yes, in light of (a) through (c) above, it is a big deal. Then he tried to say that it's not that much codeine, and wanted to compare it with a Nurofen Plus (12.5mg, I just checked). Then he apologized, and said that he realized it was not okay, and he wouldn't do it again. Then I brought up his mother, who routinely got pissed/off her head on drugs when he and his brother were boys, to such an extent that (with father absent completely) they had to look after themselves at a very young age. I said, think of that as one end of a spectrum, and get yourself completely to the other end. He said he understood, and he is working on it.

More background: he is in therapy for anger management and communication of emotion issues that relate to the drinking. He's been working really hard on it, and I've seen major improvements (despite these two setbacks over the weekend) in his ability to communicate and control his drinking.

So I guess my question is not, am I being unreasonable, because I am pretty damn sure I am not, but what do I do now? When has it gone too far? Bearing in mind that things are actually getting a lot better, and I do love him completely, but also at times think of how much easier life would be if he'd just get hit by a bus. It's also relevant to know that his drinking put DS in danger twice in the past - once when DS was about 8 months DH dropped him while trying to put him on his shoulders. He was completely pissed at the time. The second time DS was probably 11 months old and I went to a show with my mum and DH was looking after DS on his own, got completely drunk after DS was asleep, then DS woke up and DH rocked him back to sleep but passed out in the chair. When I got him, DH was covered in a pool of his own piss, DS was soaked in it, too, and had just woken up and was about to fall onto the floor off of DH's lap. DH did not wake up until I shook him awake after retrieving DS.

We are now six months down the road from those awful incidents. Things have improved, but there are obviously still issues. DH is in therapy, he does seem to be getting better, but still this has happened, and I don't know where to draw the line in the sand - it feels like it keeps moving.

I've changed my name to protect my privacy. TIA.

OP posts:
serenity · 14/08/2008 10:38

I'm quite surprised by some of these replies too. He's an addict, so yes it seems perfectly reasonable that he asks before taking anything and if he's in the early stages of recovery one drink/one tablet/one anything is not on. Codeine can be fairly addictive iirc so definitely shouldn't be something he's popping just for the fun of it.

Have to agree with the previous posts - clear everything out. You can't trust him to have the self will to resist taking things if they are there (if he had that sort of iron discipline he wouldn't still be having problems!) two steps forward, one step back is still going forward. He does sound like he's trying though, and making progress although slowly. Only you can decide whther loving him is enough to stick by him whilst he works his way through it.

Apologises if I've xposted with loads of people - Dcs keep interrupting

policywonk · 14/08/2008 10:38

Sorry, mood-altering not mind-altering!

elliott · 14/08/2008 10:38

No, you are not over-reacting. I suspect those who don't think its a problem have no experience of dealing with people with addictions.

zippitippitoes · 14/08/2008 10:39

no you arent over reacting and get rid of the drugs you have in the house

BlingLovin · 14/08/2008 10:40

You're not. It's a bit like an alcoholic - they're always alcoholics. they don't get to have "one" drink at the end of the day's work - because they have a problem. if he has dependency issues, taking codeine because he's bored, counts as the same as an alcoholic taking a drink.

My BIL has a problem. He's now cutting back even on things like coffee. Simply because he says he finds it hard to stop anything that makes him feel "different". Instinctively, that seems excessive to me, but then, I won't smoke even Hookahs (or whatever they're called) any more, even though they don't have nicotene because I never want to smoke again and don't want to do anything that puts me in a position of feeling that it might be okay. Obsessive, yes. But it works.

LineInTheSand · 14/08/2008 10:45

Thanks policywonk and serenity, that is very helpful. I need perspective when dealing with all of this because I tend to go from, I should leave him now, to, no, things are getting better, to, I am really just a controlling bitch and that's why he's drinking/taking pills, so it's my fault.

Things are getting better, and I do think I can make it through. We've made it this far.

twoluvlykids, I am sorry to hear of your problems with these issues, but it's a relief to hear that someone has gotten beyond them and stayed together. Thanks for sharing.

OP posts:
themildmanneredjanitor · 14/08/2008 10:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

zippitippitoes · 14/08/2008 10:49

the trouble is it meses your head up and messes up your relationships and affects your judgement

serenity · 14/08/2008 10:54

Unless you're strapping him down and forcing drink down his throat I fail to see how it can be your fault! It's true that the only person who can sort this out is your DH, only he can make the decision to quit - but he's started doing that by going to therapy, so you aren't trying to force him into anything by controlling his drinking/drug taking, you're supporting a decision he's already made.

Helsbels4 · 14/08/2008 10:55

YANBU! Who in their right mind pops a prescriptive drug - or even shop bought medication - for the fun of it because they're bored??? I too am at some of the replies on here considering his history of addictions etc. In the past when I have had to take Codeine, it makes me really whoozy and light-headed. It wasn't a good feeling and I certainly wouldn't want to be in sole charge of a child in that state. He does sound as if he is trying to overcome his problems though and that he was wrong, so personally I would stick with the recovery for now but would also make it clear that one more strike and he's out.

policywonk · 14/08/2008 10:56

I was given codeine and some sort of valium-type thing early on in my labour with DS1 (against my wishes really but that's another story). I'd never taken either of these things before and I was amazed at how out of it I was. (Well, I was amazed in retrospect - at the time I was so blasted I barely knew where I was, let alone that I was supposed to be in labour .)

Overmydeadbody · 14/08/2008 10:58

LineisSand - it seems I responded too hastily and without thinking it throgh, as other posters have now made me realise. With all the information you have given it would seem, in your DH's case, that yanbu.

I guess I over-react too much to people coming on here seeming to want to control their partners, tell them what they can and can't do, and a part of me reacts badly to that . Probably because I used to be married to a drug addict and tried to control it in him and stop him by banning him, removing the drugs from the house etc etc and none of it actually working and making him stop. I wasted four years of my life tihnking he would chance if only I could control him enough and be in charge.

I also take rather a lot of ibuprofen and would be very upset if anyone tried to monitor it or control it or tell me I had to stop taking them. My problem, I know.

So I'm Sorry.

LineInTheSand · 14/08/2008 11:01

Thanks Helsbels4. The one more strike thing is difficult for me - well, it's just not the kind of thing he responds to. He'd get completely defensive and react like a cornered, angry dog if I said that to him, though implicitly I think he knows that he's walking a thin line.

My line in the sand has been that if he puts DS in danger again, then that's it. We're done.

OP posts:
OrmIrian · 14/08/2008 11:03

codeine?

Is that code for something else . Am I seriously out of the loop

Turniphead1 · 14/08/2008 11:03

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

OrmIrian · 14/08/2008 11:04

Ooohhhh.. there's more to it I see.

Why not mention that in the OP then?

mangolassi · 14/08/2008 11:05

LITS, I don't think you're overreacting about the codeine, and am a bit shocked that so many people do.

Recreational drug use in substance addicts isn't the same thing as using painkillers for pain. He says he did it to relieve his boredom - replacing one drug with another? Plenty of people do get addicted to prescription drugs and heroin is also a great painkiller. Doesn't make it okay to use when taking care of your kids.

Do you need to have prescription drugs in the house?

tiredemma · 14/08/2008 11:11

6 weeks ago I would have probably laughed at your post and told you to get a grip, its only Codeine FFS.

However, having just spent 4 weeks witna community drugs team, I can understand your concerns with him wanting to take it because he 'was bored'. This behaviour signifies something a bit more deep rooted than just 'popping a pill'.

mangolassi · 14/08/2008 11:14

Oops slow typing

Okay, now we've established yanbu, what do you want to do? I personally wouldn't really be into ultimatums, not unless you're sure you'll go through with it anyway.

On the plus side, he did tell you eventually and does now seem to agree he was wrong.

Are you having any counselling together? Do you have ground rules for his behaviour already?

zippitippitoes · 14/08/2008 11:17

i dont think ultimatums will benefit him

there are bound to be setbacks and reversals

how you cope yourself is a different matter

it is hard when you have had the same difficulties yourself or at least done some of the same things and feel you have left them in the past to have to endure someone else who isnt moving on as quivckly/easily

morningpaper · 14/08/2008 11:25

Get a carrier bag and empty the house out of any illegal/non-perscription/uncessary drugs. You surely only need some calpol and some paracetamol for emergencies?!

belgo · 14/08/2008 11:31

I've seen people addicted to cough medicine due to the codeine content, and in heart failure because of it. It's not a drug to be taken lightly, especially when someone is known to have addiction problems.

It's good that your dh is in therapy and having treatment, and it's also good that you are there supporting him, as I imagine that can be very stressful.

colacubes · 14/08/2008 11:40

I think there is a chance that because you live with someone with problems that you get pissed off at his behaviour and so berate him, which will only anger him, and he will start to hide his behaviour. I would try being more understanding, less accusing, and he will come to you more, and trust your concern when you show it, and not see it as you trying to control him or mother him.

I speak from experience, I spent years telling my dp off about how bad he was, and complaining he was behaving like a child when I was actually treating him like one!

Your dh is obviously struggling dealing with life in general, the drugs and alcohol just make it easier, the problem lies with his mechanism to cope, not the drug of choice, deal with that and the usage will be replaced his dealing strategies, he needs to feel again, not numb the pain.

zippitippitoes · 14/08/2008 11:43

as an addicitve person maybe he could try exercise as a therapy and a substitute

and it might help with boredom as well releasing endorphins

it is safer than drugs

youcannotbeserious · 14/08/2008 11:44

I can see why you are so upset about this. It's a trust thing...

Is he willing to change? Is he ready to give up alcohol completely?

Can I ask, would one codeine (SP?) tablet make you feel appreciably different? Sorry, I really don't know, I don't take tablets like that at all....

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