Normally I don't give information about our halfway house residents. Even though they're not covered by the same HIPAA laws as our treatment program. And that's because too often it's an old girlfriend or using buddy trying to track someone down. It's simpler to not give any information.
But this was a distraught mother who feared the worst. She imagined all kinds of scenarios. He was hiding in a drug house. Someone might have knocked him in the head. He might have pulled a robbery and already be back in jail. I heard her anxiety.
I was able to search our database and tell her he wasn't here. Then I suggested she call his parole officer. He might know something.
So today she called with the good news that her son still had a few more days before his release. He was okay after all. She called to thank me for helping her.
Her calls were a reminder of how we affect those around us. Too many times addicts in our program make dumb statements. They say things like they never hurt anyone while they were using. They claim they only hurt themselves.
But reality is that we don't live in a vacuum. Our self-centered behavior impacts everyone in our lives.
And if anyone could have listened to this anxious mother they'd have a better idea of the impact our using behavior has on our loved ones.
