Hydrocodone question

[duet_4-8]

Hello to everyone. I found SR a few days ago; I have been posting on the 'Friends and Family' boards, but I have some questions that I hope some of you folks who are struggling with hydrocodone can answer for me. I'm sorry if this is long. I guess I just would like some perspective from another point of view, you know?

My husband of 25 years has been abusing drugs for as long as I can remember. (We are children of the 70's; I did my share of partying before the kids came). He used to smoke enough pot for ten people-all day every day. Now he is using lortab and valium. I have found his stash many different times over the years, and have gone through cycles of him obviously using for awhile and then seemingly somewhat straight for awhile. Lots of promises and lots of lies.

Although he has always taken care of us (me and three kids) financially, he hasn't worked in over 15 years because he owns a sporting goods business with his cousin and he gets a rent check and a salary check every month. He spends his days and nights running around and spending money. His cousin is done with this and the business will be closing in a few weeks.

Last Christmas eve, I noticed white powder in his nose. He said it was 'sheet rock dust'. To make a long story short, it turned out to be lortab. Even though I have found the powder, and razor blades, and straws, and the pills themselves several different times since then, he of course totally denies it. I haven't found any in a few weeks but I have quit looking for them. His behavior is basically the same.

So anyway, I guess my question is I am right to think that he is an addict and needs treatment? How common is snorting lortab? It seems to me to be somehow more serious. Do people ever just quit on their own without getting help?

I really already know the answers to these questions and I know what I have to do for myself and the kids. It's just hard to muster the courage to do it. Thanks for any input anyone offers.

[racegirl2448]

I am not familiar with snorting pills... I did just dump my BF who was and is a coke addict (although he will deny it & lie til he is blue in the face).....
I suppose someone would snort pills...not 100% sure though. Are you sure is is pills not coke? I used to see white powder in his nose...sniffing alot...running nose...teeth grinding....he could not sit still if his life depended on it not even for 30 seconds straight. Just a thought, I am not an expert though.
( I dumped him for other reasons too not just coke... but that was a huge part of it... I hated the lies and no money even though he made 2x more money that me he would ask to borrow $20 here and $20 there - Sometimes I feel bad I dumped him and less than a year later I started abusing my perscriptions....guess that makes me no better than him but at least I do not lie and I admit I abuse them...right?)

[ccgirl]

I have heard of people snorting pills. I don't know what the difference or seriousness is as compared to ingesting them.

As far as stopping on your own, it sounds like rehab would be the place for him, but only if he wants to admit he has a problem.


P.S. Welcome fellow Massachusetts poster. There seems to be a lot of us lately.

[mikiglen]

you can snort any pills....lortab, xanax, ritalin, adderall, whatever
in my book, it's a serious addiction, but then i would think of it as a progression.....taking pills orally didn't work anymore, so you start snorting them....but other people may just do it that way to see what happens. i can't say your husband's reasons.
also, IN MY OPINION, i would think he is going to need help detox/rehab to get clean. that's a lot of drug use over a lot of years.
don't be upset if he can't do it at home, or even do it the first time. it may take lots of tries and lots of patience
good luck

[tintin]

If he is hooked he needs help but more importantly he needs to want help.

[duet_4-8]

Thanks for the input. I know he heeds help but he doesn't see it as a problem. I would have thought that losing the business would have been a wake up call but it wasn't. I am filing for legal seperation in January. I can't deal with it anymore.

[duet_4-8]

Thanks pillsy. That's basically what I thought. Appreciate the info.

[stonespike]

I see Pillsy's post got removed, was he the "troll" everyone was talking about? If he/she did indeed help duet with her problem, what exactly made him a troll??

[Smyle]

I had a terrible pill addiction and when injesting them was not enough I started snorting them ..then injecting them...the disease is progressive...

I too lost my business...family...just about everything...I have gained some of it back....My hubby has been amazing....I see an addiction specialist weekly and have 7 months....FINALLY....I feel good ....I hope he can get the help he needs...

Best wishes for your family....

Peace,
~Beezy

[duet_4-8]

What's a troll??

[RecoveryKid]

Originally Posted by tintin

If he is hooked he needs help but more importantly he needs to want help.

You are absolutely right. It sounds like he could use help but help without acceptance is not help at all.

[duet_4-8]

I know. Believe me I have tried everything I know how to do. I have finally realized-thanks to the folks here and a couple of people I have met-that the best thing I can do for him is let him face the consequences of his addiction instead of saving him from them. But it's easy to say, hard to do.

Thanks everyone for your help.

[logo]

duet 4-8 It is not easy admitting your an addict when you are suffering no consequences. He still has you the business (for now) and I'm sure some material possessions. It seems we all have to reach a bottom before we are willing to change. I hope the best for you. We all have to go through what we have to go through to get to where we are going. Love & Respect

[duet_4-8]

Thanks logo

Love the computer thing...