Topic : 09/22 Follow-Ups

I can relate to what both Brandon and his parents are going through.  As a person in recovery I didn't get it until I received the gift of desperation...I wanted to live more than I wanted to die. My recovery began at that moment and I haven't looked back. Life is still life, but my AA support group is always there to pick me up.  To Brandon I say nothing new...get a group...get active..get a sponsor..work the steps...and hang with the winners.  They will always be there for you.  The elevator WILL continue to go down, but we don't have to stay on till the bottom.  Brandon can take that choice back.  It's a disease that affects every person in the lives that we come in contact while we defend our "right" to mow them down.

As a parent who has a son that is 22 and has been doing exactly what Brandon has been doing (since he was 14) I can relate to what his parents are feeling...the guilt..the poor me's...the why can't I fix/help him. And there is a wonderful support group out there for them also...it's call Al-Anon.  Same rules apply..get a group..get a sponsor...get active...work the steps...hang with the winners.  They will always be there for you.  You didn't cause it, you can't control it, you can't cure it. But you can help you.  And that is just as important.

Godspeed from an alcoholic and a parent of an alcoholic.

I can't wait to see how Brandon is doing....I think he has a wonderful family behind him and I wish him nothing but the best

Dr. Phil,

I have been cheering for Brandon since the first time I saw him and his family on your show.  His mother reminds me so much of my mother.  My sister who has been on drugs since age 14 has just completed her 1 year of being drug free.  When the rest of the family kept telling my mother to let her go, she just couldn't do it.  I remember her telling me before I became a mother, that I did not understand a mother's love.  Now I am a mom and I do understand what she meant.  My sister will be 44 Oct. 24. 2006.  We are proud that she has gone this long without drugs, but we are also cautious and very much aware of how strong the desire to do drugs can be.  I am a nurse and I have enough knowledge to know that it is an every day struggle, especially since she has been on drugs for such a long period.  My heart goes out to Brandon and his family, but I want them to know that there is hope and do not give up on him.  He deserves their love and support, but do not enable him.  He will find his way.  Let him know that he is loved but not his addition nor his behavior.

Brandon and Family,

I wish you all the best where Brandon is concerned.  I too have been concerned for him and think the world of his family.  His mother and father are wonderful and you can see they love him so much.  I have a brother now 41 whom has been addicted to crack cocaine for at least 15 yrs.  He's good looking, very smart, sweet demeanor  and cannot stay away from drugs.  He has been locked

up 3 times for failing the drug test once he's visited his probation officers.  He has been clean off and on.  He tries to stay from them but, if you continue friendships with people that still have the habit then, I know you won't be able to kick the habit.  Brandon, please stay away from those drugs.

My brother doesn't have the financial means to get to an institution to assist him, but, I guess it won't make a difference if you refuse to resist and refuse family support.  You may not know how

important family support is but ask Dr Phil to share those statistics.  Most family turn away from their kids, and many of them become adults where family feel there is no hope.  Why would you

prefer to be homeless, hungry and left on the streets panhandling for money to do drugs.  This isn't

a life you want, and I am sure your family will not support your habit and will do whatever necessary

to protect your brother from making the same mistake.

Would love to see you straighten up, be a hero and not a zero..... Show your friends that you have strayed away from that reckless lifestyle......     

Patrice  (Your family out here are pulling for U, we Luv U)