I need help and advice on cocaine/polydrug addicted cousin!!

[IOFILE]

Ok. So I've been browsing this forum for a while because I feel that it has a wealth of information and provides more than enough sources of knowledge for me to make educated decisions. While not having actively posted here, I've been one of those shadows lurking among threads to steal everyone's 2 cents. Thanks for all that.


But on to something more serious. This is a very long post, I am aware, but I have a real family crisis concerning my cousin and I really need advice. I've been reading up on the cocaine and heroin forums to try to understand more about his situation. Personally, my drug experience has traveled no farther than pot and some mild psychedelics thus far, so I am no stranger to altered consciousness, but I have no empathy for harder drug users. That is probably the primary reason that I am posting this. My cousin started smoking weed around 10 and progressed tococaine anywhere from around 14-17 with who knows what inbetween. I can't exactly say that he's ever been the most honest with anyone so details are sketchy. At 18, my aunt realized he had a serious drug problem and sent him off to rehab. He resented it and it did nothing. He basically lived at his parents' house for a while and then moved to seattle with a friend from high school who became his girlfriend. I suppose they were friends because she was also part of the same crowd, but apparently she stopped using, most likely because of the effects she's seen it have on some people. His best friend died sometime ago from an overdose of mainlined cocaine. After that (and perhaps before too), he has claimed to be clean for years butnone of us can be sure. He's never able to get a job, and the one that he did he got fired from because he "did it to well." For years, he just sits lethargically at home wasting away, never contributing to rent and swindling money out of his parents to live. Recently, his girlfriend got fed up with him and told him he had to get out, and he responded violently, trashing the apartment. While she hasn't seen him using, she thinks he probably still is.


I've read lots of accounts on the forum where at least people try to accept help. I mean... an addiction is hard to break but he won't even accept us and simply resents all attempts of aid. He fluxuates sporadically between violence, lethargy, and depression. Jen (his girlfriend) also thinks he might have suicidal tendancies.


Please. I guess I'm looking for any help available. I know most people who use blow on this forum do so responsibly, or at least if not, can function while managing an addiction at some level. At the very worst, they seem to seek for help from others, or acknowledge that their life is in a downward spiral because of it. I think pure cocaine is too expensive for him, so if anything, he probably waste's his parents' money on crack. He's never admitted to using heroine, but with some of his actions, which seem sometimes like withdrawel symptoms, and with the drug exposure he's had over the years(including mainlining coke and having friends die because of ODs), and with his addictive personality, I would say that it sounds like he's probalby done everything under the sky. Could some of his lethargy, depression, and violence be more of a product of heroine use than crack or blow. I feel that it is probably important to know what he is using in order to help him. I doubt he uses meth, other amphetamines, or psychedelics, but I really wouldn't know. I mean, could he really be that f**ked up off of just coke?


Have any of you been in this position, or know people who have. What did you do? He resents us, and refuses to listen to reason. I've read plenty of posts here where people who are hardcore addicts can't face ordinary people because they feel like they are being looked down upon or judged. I suppose that is right to a certain extent, even on a subconscious level. Nonetheless... we need to get to him some how. I realize our logical step to try and help him is out of a mindset that is far removed from his. But what can we do if he will not listen to logic?


Well, I suppose this has been quite emotional for me and I babbled on a bit too long, but in summary, any help, empathetic stories/advice, and speculation on what he is using would be invaluable to us right now. At this point, you probably know him as well as I do; it's pretty hard to getclose to him when he acts the wayhe does.I hate to see a case where a gift is turned into a curse. I think my aunt is planning an intervention, perhaps followed by rehab. Is this wise or just a waste of money. Thanks for spending the time to read all of this and thank you for your consideration. This forum is a godsend.


- Warren