My older brother is killing himself. (heroin)?

Question

My older brother, the guy who was there to beat up my other older brother when he picked on me, who took me to the mall and let me hang with his friends is killing himself incredibly slowly by using heroin.

He was diagnosed with Juvenile diabetes at age four. He is 25 now, and has been using heroin for almost 6 years.

Something I have noticed over the years. A heroin OD and a Diabetic low are EXACTLY alike. And he knows this, and uses it to his advantage. Some people know the affects diabetes has on you as a male as you get older, which can really make you feel S****y at an age like 25. He's gone through maybe 20 halfway houses / rehab pretty much everything. It seems as if he just wants to die, which is understandable. His real dad left him, diabetes, and so on. But how do we make him realize he needs to stop?

Answer 1

i have an older brother who is addicted to heroin also. for just about ten years...he also has been through many treatments and such, but he just goes straight back to it...

everyone always tells me that there really is nothing that you can do but show them how much you love them and encourage them because only they can help themselves. no one else can do it for them.

im sorry if it isnt the best information, i just wanted you to know that i know what youre going through and hang in there.

hope things get better

Answer 2

theres nothing you can do.  hes gotta realize it himself.   heroin is incredibly addictive and he has to be ready to go through some horrible withdrawals when he stops.  

Answer 3

Unfortunately, at age 25, there's little you can do until he hits rock bottom.  Talk with your parents or another trusted adult about sending your brother to an inpatient treatment center.  In larger metropolitan cities there should be plenty of treatment centers specifically for drug abuse.

Once the treatment center has accepted your brother as a patient, have your bother's friends, relatives and any other person you think he would listen to.gather around your brother and tell him how much you need him and how much his heroin affects your life as well as his.  The sooner he breaks away from this habit, the better off he will be.  Good luck.

Answer 4

you cant force him to stop

rehab would work better when he wants to stop

just keep talking to him

try and get him to see the benefits of being drug free

Answer 5

Honestly, you can't make another person change. Tell him and hope that he realizes what he is doing or even cares but you can't force him.  

Answer 6

First, I am very sorry.  I know this is hard.  My sister, my best friend growing up, is now killing herself with anorexia. She doesn't want help and there is nothing anyone can do because she is an adult at age 22.

Anyway,  I know it is hard, but we cannot make our loved ones change or even love themselves.  All we can do is tell them how much we love them, that we are there for them when they decide they want help.  Until someone admits they have a problem and then, decides that they want to get well, there is nothing anyone can do.  It is the sad, but honest truth.  Just make sure to keep reaching out to your brother.  Tell him how you miss him. Tell him how you wish he did not do drugs and that you are going to be there for him and want to support him in a recovery.  Good luck.  I know it is hard.

Answer 7

um i dont get the question, but if you want him to stop then talk to him, or maybe do it to so he can see that hes being a bad rolemodle and could die......~xoxo ally* im jokeing dont do it too!

Answer 8

Like many others have said there is little you can do to make him stop.  However, there are things you can do to help you.  Contact Al-Anon at 1-888-4AL-ANON (888-425-2666) to find Al-Anon meetings in your area.  These meetings will be filled with people who are just like you who are going through or have gone through the same issues.  Find a few different meetings and check them out.  Sit and listen.  Share about what you're going through if you feel comfortable.

You might also try Co-Anon if it's in your area - 800-898-9985.

I'm not affiliated with either organization.  I am an addict (recovered), however, and my family has found a lot of help/relief in these fellowships.