There is hope
My 23 year old son was released from jail in August. He has been clean for 9 months, the longest ever. I believe he would have continued to use had he not been arrested.
He moved back in with me when he was released, a decision I agonized about. He went into jail emaciated, with gray skin and black circles under his eyes, track marks, burn holes in his clothes, scabs on his face, etc.
It is now almost the end of September and he remains clean. He is a different person: working, happy, put on weight and gained muscles, clear skin, eating, has a girlfriend. He is working on paying off his debts. The son that I know has finally returned.
He has told me that he intends on staying clean the rest of his life and plans on calling his doctor to have a note put in his file about never giving him opiates, unless it is life or death. We both know that relapse is always lurking around the corner and he is terrified of it. But he seems to have the conviction, which he never had before.
I pray every day that he stays on the right path.