IMPORTANT--Seeking Info. 4 daughter--Addicted

[debbrad07]

I am here on behalf of my daughter--she is 19 so there is little I can do but at least I can be armed with information.

It's complicated. First, she is an amputee and is due to have a VERY extensive surgery on Dec. 8. She will be under, DEEP under anesthesia for seven hours during this surgery and will be on life support.

I have learned over the past week that she is smoking marajuana, taking methadone, and drinking beer quite heavily. Her pre-admission papers say she should not take even an Ibuprofen two weeks prior to surgery.

I fear if she has the surgery she might not wake up or might be in a vegetative state. I will be checking with medical professionals tomorrow. I'm afraid if I just outright ask her surgeon, he will drop her as a patient altogether and I don't want that to happen because he is the best in this field.

In case I am advised through other surgeons that will be contacting me tomorrow, her Dad and I want to do an intervention and confront her and require her to go into a treatment facility. Since she is 19, our only leverage is her car. She will have to surrender it because she is using it to sell and buy drugs. She has no idea I have learned all of this.

What we would like to find, if she is refused by the surgeon, is a faith based recovery program in the Birmingham, AL area...or Decatur, Montgomery, or somewhere near these areas. We live approx. 50 miles N. of Birmingham.

Any information or advice is appreciated. Thank you all that read this and God Bless.

Kayla's Mom

[GuyBlakeKett]

dear Kayla's Mom -

I'm so sorry you're having to deal with all this. My one quick bit of advice re: the intervention is not to do it without careful preparation - which usually involves engaging a health-care professional experienced in interventions - and setting up a rehab for your daughter to go to right after. Check this link for guidance about this:

http://alcoholism.about.com/od/intervention/

Here's a link about rehab facilities (faith-based & otherwise) in Alabama:

http://theagapecenter.com/Treatment-Centers/Alabama.htm

I also urge you and your family to begin attending Alanon meetings - they'll give you much-needed support & some good hands-on advice.

We're pulling for you.

best - with prayers -

Guy

[BubbaBob]

This is Guy's suggestion thread, but to stick my nose in (I'm alcoholic, remember?)...

A bit of distance might be good, and there is an excellent faith based women's long term (9 mos-1 year) program in the country outside of Ellijay, GA called "Women of Hope"

Also, from personal exp., the Ridgeview Institute in Smyrna, GA is an excellent facility, though not faith based. Bluntly, I'd be dead if not for Ridgeview and following discharge, regular attendance at AA meetings and WORKING my program.

I hope you get the help you need for your daughter. Your family is in my prayers.

BubbaBob
"I thought sobriety would impress God and He would open the gates of heaven and let me in.
When He didn't, I was disappointed.
Then I discovered that, instead, He had opened the gates of hell and let me out."

[GuyBlakeKett]

thanks BubbaBob for your suggestion & help - and this is everybody's thread! I'm delighted when suggestions come from any and every quarter...

cheers,
Guy