Our son has been an addict for 15 years.

[broken_heart]

Our only child got into drugs at age 14. He came from a good home, in an upper class neighbourhood and had a strong and loving extended family. Everything was wonderful... until he discouvered drugs. Within months he was running away, getting arrested and life with him became a living hell. We tried councilling, drug treatment centres, tough love, drowning him in love, boarding school in the outback, home school etc. he pull of the drugs was always more appealing than the interest in anything else.
Over the years he tried every drug out there...but nothing changed him as much as meth.
Since using meth, he is a completely different person. There is not even a glimmer of the son we raised, anywhereto be seen. He has become a shell of a person. We agreed to let him come home to live, 3 times in the past 3 years. Each time ended up in his either disapearing or getting arrested. He steals cars, gets in high speed car chases and is forever going to jail for theft, etc.
He will turn 33 this year. We love him. We pray for him. We would give anything for him to choose a different life.
I thin the saddest part of all of this is that he has never know how joyful and wonderful adult life can be. He hasn't held a job for more than a few weeks in over 10 years. We have no idea where he gets his money from, how he eats or where he sleeps. He has alienated all of his old crimal friends. he has no contact with family or family friends. We have not seen him in over 15 months and he has not called us in over 4 months. The only reson we know he is alive is because we saw a newclip about his being wanted by the police, on the TV news, a few weeks ago.
I wanted to tell my story here, so that other parents who are going thru this know they are not alone.
We did everything we could to make the best life for our son. We gave him every opportunity to get well and onto a different path.
It has taken me years to stop thinking that maybe there was something else I could have done to make a difference. There was nothing else.
I remain forever hopeful that he lives another year, and pray that one day he will decide he wants a different life. Until HE makes that decision, rehab, love and support don't make any difference.
I am thankful that he knows we love him. I hope that knowledge is some of some comfort to him when he is low.

[phoenix]

I am so very sorry your only child is so lost to you. I hold out hope for you that he will hit the point that will change his ways, and you will re-unite.(((HUGS)))