Question: My daughter in law is an alcoholic. They have 2 young kids that are 7 and 9 and they come home from school half the time to see her passed out on the couch from the wine she opened with lunch. My son does not want my help because he is actually scared of losing her and he says she is trying. She wont even talk to me any more after I told her to get help and I told her she was being a neglectful mother. I should not have said this but I was emotional. Everyone seems to want to let things go on just as if this was normal or O.K.. It is not fair to the kids to have their mom drunk when she is supposed to be taking care of them. The 9 year old is the classic perfectionist miniature adult because she has to take care of her mother and she is very anxious. She does not act like a child and she is so serious. What can I do to help her since her parents want to sweep the problem under the rug? I get to see them once a week when they stay over with me once a week on Saturday nights so the parents can have a break which actually means go out and party.

Yerachmiel Donowitz Says...:

It is a difficult situation. First, consider going to Alanon to get some support and feedback for yourself. Next ask your son if he wants any help or advice from you. If he says no, let him know that you are just expressing your concern.You can confront your son to ask him what does he think it is like for the kids. What does trying mean? Is there a time table to agree that trying did not work? Ultimately it is their decision as long as you do not think the children are being dangerously neglected. If you think they are, you have a few choices. If you can, offer to care for the children more often. If you can not you will be faced with the difficult choice of calling the authorities and dealing with their anger and threats.

Question: Can government addiction science be 100% trusted? Is it possible that vested interest groups, like pharmaceutical companies exert some influence over studies and science and important evidence based recommendations. I would hope not, but you only have to look at the USDA and wonder if big business can influence nutritional recommendations (low fat with lots of sugar and lean meat anyone…) why could they not influence publish health recommendations (Suboxone really is better…actually you’d better stay on it for a really long time…actually maybe you should never stop taking those expensive pills…)

Yerachmiel Donowitz Says...:

Your distrust of the government is well appreciated. When it comes to Suboxone, if anything the government does not seem to support its use. It is a poor step child to Methadone. There are many Methadone clinics around which are basically government funded. For a doctor to be authorized to prescribe Suboxone they have to jump through hoops. Once authorized, there is a government imposed cap on how many patients can be prescribed Suboxone. If you really want to know about Suboxone ask those who use it. Yes, it is not simple to come off it, but it is a world of difference from the pain pills and the lifestyle issues that are part of that package deal.

Question: I am addicted to opiates. It’s a long story but I have made a mistake and I am ready to change and I am going to start tapering down and white knuckling it soon. The challenge I am facing is I suddenly have to travel to the UK to present at a conference. This is quite unexpected and I am to fill in for a colleague. I don’t really have the option to decline this invitation. I obtain my opiates illicitly. I do not relish the thought of crossing international borders with illegal drugs. I also do not relish the thought of ‘doctor shopping’ …manufacturing some symptoms to try to get drugs. I can’t bring myself to do that (although I may have to). What I want to know is if I go to a doctor, perhaps a specialist in addiction medicine, and explain my situation, would it be possible to obtain a short prescription, just to get my through a 5 day stint, and then I could start my tapering process. If a doctor would help me with this tapering process that would be even more preferable. I just don’t much go in for cloak and dagger stuff and deception.

Yerachmiel Donowitz Says...:

In a short period of time you can be put on a medication that is legal and will serve your needs. Suboxone is its name. This will be a short term answer and possibly a long term answer for you as well. The general guidelines I give patients on Suboxone is to sucessfully be on it for a year, consider tappering down only when your life is at a realitively calm period and to work together with the prescribing doctor. White knuckling it is not a good idea and can be physically dangerous. Not every doctor is authorized to prescribe Suboxone. Good luck to you, your road to recovery and your presentation.

Question: Someone put cocaine in my daughter's drink last night at a party. She has to take a drug test for her work tomorrow and she is worried that she is not going to pass. Is there anything she can do to get the cocaine out of her body before the test?

Yerachmiel Donowitz Says...:

The timing is really bad for your daughter. There is little she can do other than to be upfront and honest if there will be a drug test. There is nothing that can be done if they don't accept her explaination. If they really like her they may accept being able to test her regularly until they are comfortable that this was a one time fluke. They could also question how she is based on the friends she keeps.

Question: If a person has used enough meth to get to the point where they are feeling bugs crawling under there skin do they need to go to drug rehab for sure? My step sister has been living with her boyfriend for about 6 months and I have not seen her for a while and when I went over yesterday I was blown away at how screwed up she was acting and how haggard she looked. I am not sure if I should tell my dad or not about the state she is in so I would like to know if she needs extreme help or not first.

Yerachmiel Donowitz Says...:

Meth is very debilitating and can easily end up a killer. Rehab would be extremely important. If I cared about her life and dad won't explode, I would certainly let him know.

Question: I have an addiction to lorcet and vicodin. I am a grade 2 teacher and I am just starting summer break. I can’t believe I am in this position but things got very crazy over the last 2 months of school and there is no way I can go back to teach again in September unless I can get off these pills before then. I hate to admit it but I was barely ‘there’ sometimes in class by June and it wasn’t a safe situation for the students. I have about 2 months to get clean. I have been using these pills for about 8 months and really abusing them for about 5 or so. I am looking at a rapid opiate detox because that would have me clean in a couple of weeks and able to ‘recover’ for about 6 more before going back in. Is this as good as doing a drug rehab? I am willing to do whatever it takes to get clean and I never want to be in this position again.

Yerachmiel Donowitz Says...:

Your attitude of being ready to "do whatever it takes" is to be commended and is really needed. True rehab is one that is sustained. There are alot of factors that went into your abuse and led to your addiction. If you honestly can be sure that you just went of on the wrong path, then an inpatient drug rehab might work best followed with regular outpatient follow up. If there is any chance your addiction is not so simple, I would recommend taking Suboxone and give myself a year before stopping it as well. Good luck in your recovery.

Question: I am a daily cocaine user. I have a lot of trouble getting an erection anymore I am basically impotent. Will this get better if I stop using cocaine? Will it happen right away or does it take a while to recover?

Yerachmiel Donowitz Says...:

You are correct, there is a connection. Your cocaine use can easily be the cause of your inability to have an erection. Recovery prospects are good. The time frame is difficult to determine. As with many things, the sooner the better. May you find the path to recovery soon and enjoy a full life at that time.