My older brother confessed yesterday to snorting heroin for a few months now, help need some answers?

Published January 6, 2011

Question by Lisa N: My older brother confessed yesterday to snorting heroin for a few months now, help need some answers?
My family seems to be going nuts lately, not only is sister issues but yesterday my freshly divorced brother with kids, calls me up after not hearing from him for about 2 months. Starts conversation with don’t tell anyone! He told me he has been snorting heroin and went through three days of withdrawal trying to quit. I was devastated but happy he had stopped. I get a call last night that says I am so sorry but I had to do it again, I can’t handle it. His wife and me knew each other before they were married and she has no idea! (heck no one did) I just thought he was taking a time out and acting wild, going out every night and drinking and stuff due to divorce. I keep ending up with these moral questions of do not tell. I ask him to go to rehab, he says he can’t risk ex wife finding out. Cause he is afraid she won’t let him around the kids. Yet I am thinking does he need to be around the kids anyway with this problem. I really don’t know a lot about this addiction. Or for that matter anyone who has been through this. Can anyone shed light on this for me. If I keep the secret am I enabling him? If I tell I am afraid he has no one to go to for help. It makes sense now why he owes everybody money including me. His ex wife is tough and do you think I should just keep my mouth shut and let her find out for herself? Wow this is gut wrenching.

Best answer:

Answer by Lost Angel
Your brother needs help, he’s an addict. You need to tell your brother to go to rehab tell him to find a center in another state or town and tell people he’s taking care of business or something. You are right he does not need to be around his kids at the moment, he needs to focus on getting himself help before he can care for his kids. Right now the most important thing is getting him off drugs.

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