Have you ever given your loved one money for drugs?

enabling
#1

I’m aware that this question suggests enabling, but I’m asking because I know some parents have done this out of desperation to help their child overcome being “dope sick” or for other reasons. I’m wondering how common it is.

#2

Guilty! My brother was in a very risky situation and dealing with a lot of grief. We didn’t like it but we facilitated use in order to get him closer to recovery. Not a quick nor easy process.

#4

Thanks for sharing this. I totally get it!

#6

Thanks for understanding! <3

#3

Yeah I’m guilty of this as well. Back when my fiance was started suboxone, she went into acute post withdrawal syndrome which is absolutely awful. She was afraid to keep using the suboxone so we switched back to methadone but there was a period of like a week and a half with no meds so I gave her some cash just get her off sick till we could get back on the methadone. I didn’t really want to but it was the first and last time and I told I wouldn’t do it again.

#7

When my daughter was heavily using and she had no way to get money for her drugs; dealers would “front her” drugs. They’d let her go for awhile and then start threatening her for the money. She claimed they would hurt her if she didn’t pay them so we gave her money to pay them off. She always said this would be the last time and she’d go to treatment. And I’m happy to say she finally did go into treatment and she has been doing well with just one relapse in over a year.

#5

Its so painful to watch them suffering. I wish there was a different way but this is the main reason I did it for my son as well. Thanks for sharing this.

#8

Amazing @Marybeth thanks for sharing, sending love and support for ongoing health and wellness!

This reminds me of a similar situation I’ve been - paying off debts for my brother…in foreign countries pulling out stacks of bills from atm machines and heading to dodgey locations to settle debts. We left a big one unsettled and never told him, simply hopped on a plane with him and vowed to never go back to that place.

We live in separate countries so it’s not always easy to know what’s going on but at this point a couple years on from that incident we count alive and kicking as winning <3

#9

I’m sure I have involuntarily given my son money for drugs. When he’s been homeless and asked me for $ for food, or for smokes, and I’ve sent some. Never knowing how it was spent. I did eventually ask him to send me a picture of what he purchased, with the receipt, showing the date. It was useless. I have had to stop sending him any money at all.

When he was in highschool, and selling drugs, I found the stash in his backpack, with scales and baggies. I took it from him, and threw it all out. He freaked out so much that the guys he was selling for would hurt him, maybe kill him. So, I drove him to the local Tim Hortons, with cash to pay the drug guys off with. Not a proud moment. Scary, helpless and hopeless times.