Answer to your Question
Question: A family knows that their 22yr old son is abusing or addicted to Oxycodone. He lives in their home and does not want treatment. They are desparate for him to get help and also do not want him in the home as they have younger children. What free resources may be available to the family (San Rafael, CA)?
Submitted on: October 22, 2008
Answered By: 
Addiction Specialist
Addiction SpecialistAnswer: This difficult situation is unfortunately very common. As I've written in earlier responses, if an individual does not want to get sober, treatment is unlikely to have a lasting effect. That being said, the point of an intervention is to confront an addict with the effects their addiction is having and hope that they become willing to enter treatment. It is important that this be done with a professional interventionist. It is also important to remember that it is ultimately the choice of the addict to enter treatment and it is possible that they will continue to refuse help despite an intervention. As far as free resources are concerned, there is a 12-step group called Alanon (http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/) which is for the friends and families of those affected by alcoholism. These meetings are designed to help the friends and family members with their own issues, not to provide help with getting the alcoholic/addict into recovery. You may also consider finding a therapist for yourself to help with the difficult task of setting appropriate boundaries with the addict. 
Answered on: October 22, 2008
