My son was in and out for over ten years. Of all those false starts, how was I to know when he would hit bottom? I do know that his brief periods of sobriety- lasting from two months to up to eight months long, were helpful and gave him some confidence. I think he learned a great deal about himself through his relapses and by watching the same thing happening to his friends and all the other people he knew from 'the rooms' and the various facilities he stayed at.
The director at his halfway house told me that my son reminded him of himself- because it took him....eleven....times of trying before he finally had enough. This director has many, many years clean. I was surprised to hear that he had struggled so, and his story gave me alot of hope for my son to make it out of that lifestyle.
From one mom to another, I wish you and your son the best.