What Should I Do About My Drug Addict Brother Coming to Town?

Question by BabyGirl: what should I do about my drug addict brother coming to town?
My brother is an alcoholic and a drug addict and he lives in San Fransisco. He is unemployed and has no where to live so my mom bought him a plane ticket to come to Ohio for a few weeks. He is supposed to stay at his girlfriend’s parents’ house-behind their back. He’s going to tell them he’s staying with me so he wants to keep his stuff at my place and wants to stay a couple nights a week. I don’t trust him to stay at my apartment and I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to turn him away. I’m asking if anyone can help me? I don’t have money to send him to rehab- I also don’t know if I could even get him to go. It’s been so easy to ignore his problem because he’s been in San Fransisco for about 8 years. But now he’s coming to Ohio and now I’m forced to deal with it and make a decision- let him stay or turn him away? I work full time and go to school full time. I don’t get home till ten o’clock at night.

I don’t know what to do. I’m so stressed out! My boyfriend lives there too and he has his things there. He just recently bought a big screen tv and a home theatre system and a wii-things that can be sold for drug money since he has no money to support his habit! I just don’t know what to do!

Best answer:

Answer by Michelle H
Very simple–don’t let him stay there. Even though he’s your brother, his alcohol and drug habits have made him untrustworthy. You are under no obligation to bring anyone into your house who you can’t trust. Actually, allowing him to stay at your house is enabling him, and not very good for him in the long run. He needs to understand the consquences of his behavior, and part of that is being refused assistance by his family because you can’t trust him.

Also, it’s not your job to send him to rehab. It’s up to him to take care of himself and his health.

I would simply tell him he and his stuff can’t stay at your house. You don’t need to offer him any further explanations, but remain firm.

Rehab-mates – Mom and dad together again.

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