helping a former addict, any advice?

[happymundanes]

We are trying to help DH's brother who has been a heroin addict for 14 years. He is now clean and living with us. He will be moving into his own flat in a week or so. He is spending all day reading and listening to music on the Internet, bored, listless and depressed. He is also knocking back the special brew.

We are trying to make him do things to fill the void left in his life by drugs and also, as a consequence, the loss of all his friends and everything really. He cannot go back to his flat to see them without the inevitable happening.

I booked an appointment for him to see a therapist for possible CBT this morning. I have suggested football, chess, computer course and lots of other things, to not much avail. He also hasn't yet seen a doctor.

When he's a bit more 'normal' he wants to do a tefl.

Does anyone have any good ideas?

How did he stop? If he's drinking heavilyl, he's not clean- and much more likely to relapse. Does he attend NA- like AA but for narcotics?

Agree na . I would be wary about Cbt unless it has been recommended by a specialist in addiction therapy as it may not be suitable.

He is wary of NA because he doesn't like the whole 12 steps approach. However, he has agreed to go to NA meetings here.

He is going for an interview at a therapy clinic (supposedly a very good one) so they can decide what therapy is best for him. I just thought CBT because it seems to be about breaking old habits, but I don't really know anything.

He's drinking a couple of cans of special brew - I don't know what else. Nothing of ours for sure because I would have noticed. I've told his body won't start working normally if he does this, but he seems aghast at giving that up on top of everything else. Presumably he could drink something less potent though.

I don't really know where to start with him. WOuld it be a good idea to call NA then?

He went to a monastery that operates a rehab clinic in Thailand, for two weeks. He came back certain that it was behind him but relapsed as soon as he was back home on the estate. Then he cleaned up again and has been with us since. It has only been about 2 weeks since he last used.

Your thread title says it all I'm afraid. He is not a former addict and won't be for a long time. He is a recovering addict with a very high chance of relapsing. 2 weeks off heroin puts him in a position of detox. Rehab takes much longer. He needs much more support. Contact your GP and ask for referral to Addiction support agencies. He should be attending NA meeting a few times a week or he will relapse. Also to stay clean he has to b completely sober, no alcohol. An addict will grab at the next best substance. Good luck. You will need support as well, some of the groups offer support for those caring for addicts too.