Someone from Louisville, Ky., whose sister and father are addicted
It consumes every aspect of the user's life, every decision they make is about the drug. Children and family members do not matter to this person as much as using the drug. Heroin comes first for these people, in my case, my sister has used opiates on and off since 2010. She's also used every other drug imaginable, starting off with pill addiction for at least 5 years before she got on heroin.
My mother was in denial. I tried telling her for years she had a serious problem. She's used crack, cocaine, painkillers, meth, alcohol, but heroin is the one she can't stay away from. My sister controls my mother's life, who is currently raising her 2 and a half year-old daughter while she is in jail for multiple counts of robbery. My mother has felt intense guilt I think, or maybe it's denial, or both.
My father was also a drug user, and has HIV/AIDS since 1994. He is still alive, currently using meth, but back in the 90s it was crack/cocaine where he ended up in prison for armed robbery. As a kid growing up with an addict parent I numbed my emotions, but never ended up a user myself. I hated my father. Absolute hate. My sister adored him, now she is just like him. I haven't spoken to him in about 6 years. My sister also has Hep C. Our entire family has been robbed and conned out of money or possessions on numerous occasions by my sister. I have so many stories. She's pawned her car, family heirlooms, put her child in danger. Drug users are professional liars. It becomes their job. There is nothing you can do to make the user stop, they have to be ready or they won't make it clean for long. I also have issues with my mother now because I didn't agree with how she handled the situation. Drug use has scarring effects on family members, the user will never understand what it does to us, nor do they ever seem to care.