Topic : 11/20 The Dr. Phil House: Heroin Twins, The Intervention

It broke my heart to see what they are going thru and what mom is feeling.  I am a mother of a crack addicted adult child and a heroin addicted adult child.  I see my son (crack addiction) fight everday to stay sober.  He has admitted himself to hospitals, detox centers, etc.  I know what it is like to see your child in a condition that you can't imagine. I know the fear when they disappear.  I know they have to be sick and tired of being sick and tired!  As a parent, it is so hard.  There is a fine line of helping and enabling.  I had to learn that.  I do not wish this fight on anyone.  My son has come a long way however he is struggling with paychecks and making thru the payday.  This is awful because he was doing well.  Has been getting his life back.  I wish there was a Dr. Phil for him as I know all us parents do.  I commend Dr. Phil for his compassion and desire to help people and pray for more folks like him.  It does seem pathetic that the government cannot do something about this horrible horrible situation.  I was shocked to find all the folks who have addiction in their family.  It is frightening.  Those who "think" they are not affected by this.......Don't Fool Yourself...... Unfortunately, someone close to you (whether family, friend or co-worker or neighbor) may very well have an addiction.

Is anything being done to protect that fetus? I think that the fetus should be the number one priority of the Dr. Phil house! When adults are failures with their own lives it becomes the responsibility of society to protect the children of the lost souls that are caught up in an active addiction. The pregnant twin should be locked down in a strict rehab center to ensure that the fetus is given the fair chance at the healthy life that it deserves. After the birht of this baby it should be removed from her care, in my opinion as I know what effects an addicts best intentions have on children. Addicts need some lengthy clean time and hard work put into their recovery before we can be beneficial to a child and meet that child's needs. Looking at the lives theese twins were living, I feel that they have no business being in control of their own lives any longer than they all ready have been, let alone an innocent child's life. I feel that it isn't even fair to chance the mothers capabilities as a parent as the lifestyle of the twins is fatal for themselves and not even near acceptable for a child to be subjected to. The pregnant twins chane at being a parent should not be put above the child's chance of a safe, secure future, filled with tons of love, fun, learning and growing,never forgetting guidance!

After watching just half of this show I feel so compelled to writing in.  The mother cannot say that for the last 10 years she did not have any idea of what the extent of what her daughters addictions are.  Coming from an Heroin addicted mother, I know first hand what it is like to be around an addict and there is no way you could not see what they are going through.  I am not implying in anyway that the mother is at fault, only that the signs of the extent of the abuse is slapping her in the face every time she takes a look at her girls.  The other thing that I found disturbing is that Joanie is actually filming Sarah and her addiction.  Herself being an addict I do not think that is an appropriate way to lend a  hand to a person who is using.  What??? Was she planning on filming her why she overdoses or kills herself??  With her education and knowledge of addiction she needed to give these girls some extreme demands for recovery or do anything that was possible to get them help.  These girls finding themselves into the house after months of filming her is quite frankly irresponsible as someone who works as a medical professional.  I hope that these two girls get the help they need.  I desperately feel what it is like to love someone like that and the helplessness that goes with the addiction.  It breaks my heart to see them and the pain they are doing to themselves..I hope they get the medical attention they so desperately need.  Are their any family members of these girls around?? I would love to get the point of view from the mother's family as to why no interventions have been done before 10 years.

I felt compelled to register just to post this  msg.  This show was indeed hard to watch, but it is reality.. growing in society and becoming more ever-present.  This is to all those whom claim "they brought it onto themselves" and "They don't deserve help, and are wastes of lives".  I'm only 23, and feel more mature and educated than some of you.  How dare you make such claims, when you don't know everything about their lives, or experiences.

  The part of the brain which demands you to get and consume drugs is not the same part of the brain in charge of logic.  It's like you're a zombie to the addiction.  You've got a demand.. and blindly look to meet it.  Something like troops following Bush's orders, whether they agree or not.  There is a part of you which fights this.. and recognizes the wrong or right in your actions, but the fight is far harder than you'd ever imagine, and when you're in withdrawal.. it is human nature to move AWAY from pain, and towards pleasure. 

 

Nobody deserves anything addiction creates.  Nobody looks to become a drug addicted prostitute.  Nobody is ever proud of having scars on their face, limbs or heart.  You've obviously been fortunate enough to not experience such a thing.  But I guarantee, one of you.. at least.. will come in contact, or will find a loved one addicted to something one day.. and you will then realize its not as simple as "just dont do it", and I guarantee your horrible, insensitive judgment will change almost immediately. 

Shame on your condescending selves...  How can you decide who deserves help and who doesn't?  Addiction is very seductive... nobody thinks they are going to become a "junkie"  nobody sets out to do so.  Suburban moms can just want to be able to keep up with their kids and house work and take the first speed pill.  "It can't happen to me" becomes a denial.. and before you blink, you're hopelessly addicted and in a fight for your life. 

I know... because I am an addict... a heroin addict in fact. Actively using or in recovery.. an addict is an addict for life.  But I work, pay taxes, volunteer, and do many things you do.  Addict should not be my title.. and let me tell all of you.. because I am an addict, I am no less than any of you. 

 

No wonder we live in a world with such problems.  People whom don't understand or aren't educated in a subject think they can make such judgment or claims.  No matter who anyone is or does... as a human race, we should never deny help.  I thought that was what you Americans pride yourselves on.  Looks like you have some rotten apples in the bunch.

This nurse Joanie has been on the show before.  Last year sometime.  She was addicted to pills of some sort and I think using while at work where the pills were accessible.  Some other member of her family or significant other was on the show.  Then there was a follow-up to her recovery.

I have been a clinician in the field of addiction treatment for 25 years and I have never seen anything like this.  I have seen many heroin addicts with abcesses, etc. but the compulsion to pick her face from the cocaine high is incredible.  I have concerns for Joani also, as do the others who have commented.  Be careful not to sensationalize this case, you have an opportunity to focus on the health risks with addiction, not the moral implications.

     April 7, 2007 If I keep doing what I'm doing I will be celebrating 7 years of sobriety.  In this period of time I have been able to forgive myself and take responsibility for my actions, past/present.  As much as I wanted to blame every one for my addiction three fingers were still pointing at me as I pointed the (blame) finger at everyone else.  The situation is what it is and fault isn't going to get the twins sober.  However, I commend Dr. Phil for the intervention and the twins mother for allowing it to happen.  Looking at my own life story I was taken to my first 12 step meeting approx. 6yrs. before entering 1 of 4 rehabs before I honestly started on the road to recovery.  As love ones, family, and friends stand by watching us kill ourselves they seem to think we are hopeless and their is nothing they can do.  I beg to differ.  You can reach out and offer treatment, rehab., etc. However, what we do with that info. is totally up to the individual who still suffers. When your at wits end and think there is nothing else to do you can pray to the God of your understanding.  For yourself and the still suffering addict/alcoholic that may be in your life.

You can love someone without loving them too death.

You sound like you are very young. It is obvious that you have not had very many experiences yet in your life. There is a song or saying that says something like this, unless you have not made any mistakes in your life becareful who you judge. You should take this advice, and really think about people reading your remarks who might be related addicts of some kind. My cousin is a heroin addict and I have no control over that. I still miss her and I still love her, no matter how much sympathy you have for her, is it fair that you hurt me or others like me who have done nothing wrong and just want our loved ones back in our lives, with your hurtful  comments.

Dr Phil

I wish I would have had your help with my daughter Dawn.She is now in recovery for the past 8 mths.and is doing wonderful.I watched your show because seeing them speak was like looking at my own daughter 9 mths ago.Nine mths ago she was down to 80 lbs and she is 6 foot and she had the same sores on her face the twins had on their faces.Dawn use to pick on her face everyday and get sores.SHe has taken everything of value that I had that cannot be replaced.So I think what you are doing is a wonderful thing.See I refused to allow my child to die on me and I knew she was at her lowest and if something did not get done soon to help her then she was going to die.....GOD BLESS you Dr. Phil and believe me it is not a losing battle like most people say it is.I have been through alot to get my daughter better but the material things she took from me mean nothing to me.My daughter takes the place of everything she took from me.So if I had to do it all over again to keep my daughter alive I would...

Louise Hubert

I think you meant to reply to someone else, Lindsie or something, I replied to her too and Your message sounds kind of like mine, that is why I just wanted to let you know.