Rehabilitation Attempt Failed

Early July CADS Thames renewed the Methadone prescription, but for twice weekly 'pick-ups', not once weekly, and also at this time the caseworker suggested Shane was to be given back partial responsibility for his Methadone.   Reluctantly and hesitantly I agreed to Shane uplifting his take home doses of Methadone from the pharmacy, on the condition that the Methadone was put in my possession immediately upon doing so.   But Shane's Methadone withdrawal didn't commence until the September, and then only reducing down, if I remember correctly at 2mgs a month.   The Methadone withdrawal rate apparently is entirely up to Shane and the CADS Medical practitioner.

I had been advised at the beginning of my attempt how difficult the Methadone withdrawal aspect of Shane's drug rehabilitation was going to be, and also of the low success rate for complete Methadone withdrawal outside a professional residential facility.   However, I felt confident that with Shane's desire and my determination, Methadone withdrawal and drug rehabilitation within our home environment could still be successfully accomplished.   But as the months ticked by, Shane's drug abuse or 'topping-up' once again started spiralling out of control and my confidently aspired rehabilitation effort slowly, but surely crumbled into dismal failure.

On December 20th 2007, after a three day, what I knew to be Methamphetamine or (P) drug binge, Shane was removed from our home, with intructions not to return to us until he was clean of all drugs, including the Methadone.   Shane was effectively being discarded out of our lives, so he now had to go it alone, without a home or any family support.   It is an extreme measure often referred to as 'tough love', and one we had considered of recent weeks but always veered away from using because of the risks and implications involved.   Shane had no savings, his income was the sickness benefit and his few associates were persons also with addictions living on the streets, a lifestyle we knew Shane would probably end up living as well without our support.   However, this fateful day in December I finally had to concede defeat, and acknowledge Shane really did need to be in a professional residential environment to safely withdraw off the Methadone and overcome his battle with drugs.   Hence, the 'tough love' option was actioned, in the hope it would eventually ensure that result, of Shane entering into a residential addiction rehabilitation centre.

Although well intentioned, it was still a difficult, heartrending decision to make and action on the day because of his state.   But due to Shane's no fixed abode circumstances and for his own safety, he was thankfully admitted into a hospital unit for a few days to undergo partial detoxification.

The 'co-dependency' or 'enabling' theory springs to mind, and yes, maybe that theory does apply to all Shane's family over those years of his drug addiction, to us though it was just purely love and support, nothing else.