Anyone ever had an addict come to visit?

lifesaver · #1 06-21-2003, 06:01 PM

My sister and brother tin law are havign a big celebration for my nephews birthday next weekend. Family is drining in from all over the place. (I cant be there cause of a work thing). My brother in laws family is coming, and his younger brother Keith, will be there.

Keith has suffered from addiction for prolly the last decade. For the most part its been booze, he had 3 dwi's and such. Hes 29 and had a really good job withthe post office. Well, hes been in and out of jail (never prison) and halfway houses. He has no expenses - lives in a house on his parents land. Anyway, hes taken up with this girl and together, they have started the heavy stuff, heroin, crack, etc. Hes lost his job. Its only a matter of tiem before he is sent to prison, because he is still on probation and will test hot. WHen he and his g/f were in Houston staying with Keith's other brother (Casey), they stole his checkbook and wrote $4,000 worth of checks on their checkbook. Fortunately, Casey figured it out asap and cancelled the checks and notified the authorities. His family all balmed it on the girl and crap. "Cause Keith would never do something like that!" Keith did last week trade in his truck for cash so he could by more rock. Its gettign out of controll.

Well, Keith (sans chick) will be in Houston next weekend, staying with my sister and brother in law. I have never been around soemone with an addicition like that, to where they will steal. I have advised them to put all their valuables, jewlry, and such even wallets in their gunsafe. And just to keep a drivers liscence and check card out... but keep that on them at all times. If they leave a wallet out, he can get a Credit card number and take them for a lot of cash.

Anyone else ever been in thi ssituation? They cant tell him not to come, the rest of the family wouldnt have it. What can they do short of putting their entire house in the gun safe, or nailing everything down?

Thanks....

carnation · #2 06-21-2003, 06:49 PM

Make sure that Keith can't get hold of anything he could open a credit card with. You really have to lock up for an addict's visit.

This will no doubt keep up unti his family quits saying things like "the girl did it to Keith" and expecting other family members to want to invite him over! Betcha anything he's stolen a bunch of stuff from his parents and they've pretended not to notice.

Hootie · #3 06-21-2003, 09:07 PM

Oh my goodness! This guy is OUTTA control! Seriously I'm surprised that his family hasn't disowned him for his behavior. I mean I've never had to deal with an addict but my guess is they won't stop even after they harm the one's they love...and harming can come from that credit debt too!

Seriously the locking up of valuables is HUGE. I'd go as far as making sure bills are locked up, shredded and such. If they have a filing cabnet I'd lock up paper work so he can't get the ssn or credit card numbers. And NEVER LET HIM OR HER OUT OF THEIR SIGHT!

I wish I had more solid advice but that's all I could think of

lionlove · #4 06-21-2003, 11:06 PM

My freshman roomate from hell was an addict so I have experience LIVING with one. Definatly lock up everything but don't make it look suspicious (huge padlocks everywhere). Don't let them cook or you'll have some "interesting" brownies...not what you want at a birthday party. Try to keep them away from electronic stuff. My roomate broke remotes, radios, CD players, TVs...

On the plus side, having this guy spend so much time around his family (sans the girl) may open their eyes to what he is up to.

Good luck.

Peaches-n-Cream · #5 06-21-2003, 11:21 PM

Not an addict story, but last night my mother went out to dinner with some friends. Someone stole $200 right out of her wallet. One of her friends told the host who said that you should hold onto your wallet when you are in a restaurant. I thought that his was the reaction of someone who has thieves working for him. Her pocketbook was within her reach the entire time. This thief knew what s/he was doing.

We didn't have an addict, but a klepto in the family. It was a joke. People would put their bags and coats in a bedroom only to find that money was missing at the end of the night. I only heard these stories second hand, but they ring true because so many people have so many stories about this one person and missing money. Whenever klepto was visiting, cries of hide the silver were heard.

lifesaver, your family will need to lock up all of their valuables and guests' coats and bags. They will also need to watch him to make sure that he doesn't start using in their house. It's a really sad situation when someone has a drug addiction problem. The entire family is affected. I hope that he gets help.

sunsets2 · #6 06-21-2003, 11:57 PM

I sent you a PM.

KillarneyRose · #7 06-22-2003, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lifesaver
His family all balmed it on the girl and crap. "Cause Keith would never do something like that!"

It sounds like part of his problem is that his family are enablers

tinydancer · #8 06-22-2003, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
It sounds like part of his problem is that his family are enablers

I just read that quickly and I thought it said "his family are EMBALMERS."

I am soo sorry. I guess the eyes have started to go after reading HP all day. Lifesaver, I am so embarrassed. I did not mean to make light of your situation.