It does suck. It really sucks.

I have learned about addiction through my SS. He's been in rehab twice, and clean now for three years. But I know any day could bring a relapse (which will destroy his father, my DH). I know addicts who have relapsed after 30 years of being sober.

Do not attribute your cousin's inability to kick the addiction as a moral failing of his. It is not due to a failure of his parents or anyone around him. The person who introduced him to drugs is an asshole, but it's not that person's fault either. Addiction is just too big. Brain chemicals and pathways are permanently altered. He won't be ready for another round of rehab until he admits he needs it though. But until then he should be held accountable for his actions. His wife was right to leave him if he was destroying her life, and their children's.

It is heartbreaking, for everyone.

I hope and pray every day that with all the research going on surrounding addiction that there will be solutions/interventions that will help at least some of the population. With attention in the popular press now about the opioid crisis, I hope there is also greater understanding of addiction and the addict.

Sadly, some people will roller coaster and hit rock bottom over and over until they die. I'm sorry, AJ.

Redhen what awful atrocity for you. I am sorry.

Ajanie as for you, I am also sorry. Sorry for the time you missed and will miss with your cousin.

My cousin died of a heroin overdose. Her child was taken away from her and adopted by the kid's cheerleading coach . I understand

I think with opioids, rock bottom is overdose and death. It’s harsh, but they relapse and relapse and relapse. And one day it will be too strong a dose, and that’s it.

As most of you know, I am an alcoholic. I had the opportunity to go to a rehab as our insurance would have paid for it. Until now, the longest I was able to stop was 4 months cold turkey.

I am now just over a year clean and sober. I don't know if I hit rock bottom. What I do know is that I found something more important to me than the bourbon, Fireball and vodka...my family.

During the past 13 months, no one had faith in me except for me. I was in full on F*ck you mode. My being pissed at the world and the love for my husband and 2 boys kept me going.

Two weeks ago my DH was formally diagnosed with combat related PTSD. He also suffers from bipolar depression and is an alcoholic and addict. He has 3 years of sobriety and a week of clean time from prescribed benzos.

He had a manic episode with massive aggression (non-violent) directed straight at me. I took our boys and left the house. I called his AA sponsor who came to the house and took him to the ER. They refused to Baker Act him, gave him his beloved benzos and released him.

Four days later, another manic episode. OBS is 15, 6 foot and 220 pounds. He and I managed to get DH into the car and we went to the ER. We left YBS at home (He is 12.5). It took both OBS and myself to drag him into the ER. After they shot DH up with Geodon, he admitted to overmedicating. He got a 3 day stay in the psych ward about 3 hours from home.

It took 7 hours in the ER for them to find placement. I took OBS home after we'd been there for 2 hours. Got them dinner and went back to the ER.

It would have been very easy at that point to stop and get a drink. I knew there was supposed to be a 10 o'clock candlelight AA meeting. They loaded DH up at 1015. I called to check on the boys and went to the meeting.

The point I am trying to get across is that you don't necessarily have a rock bottom. You need something to focus your attention on. Something wholesome and important.

I am not a recovering alcoholic. I will always be an alcoholic, I just choose to live my life in a better way, and change the ways I used to deal with issues.

I hope that your cousin finds something better, that is healthy.

Addicts are by no means all the same and shouldn't be tarred with the same brush. I became addicted to prescription meds after being prescribed large amounts during a breakdown when I was hospitalised. After a couple of years I started buying additional supplies on the internet.

It took me 17 years to free myself of the addiction - I was always willing to admit I was addicted but overcoming it was very hard and the medical profession, who had caused the problem, totally blamed me and never offered me any help.

An addict will only change when staying the same is a worse option than getting clean - often because staying the same means you are going to die. Even then some can't or won't do it - you have to be really tough to manage the withdrawal which in the case of benzos and z drugs, (unlike heroin) can go on for years.

AJ it's not about "hitting bottom". The truth about the bottom is, that there is always a rung lower-then when you get to the final rung, there isn't anything of you left because you're dead. That's rock bottom.

The thing with people with addiction is they have to want to change. Really, truly and deeply. Then they have to maintain that change, which is easier said than done. Addiction changes people. People from great homes, people with great careers and promise can become addicts in the flip of a switch. Addiction doesn't care about demographics.

The best thing you can do as someone who loves him, is be there when and if he does finally decide he wants to change for serious. I hope he gets there.