Most cries for help are not from addicts or alcoholics. They are normally from someone who cares about them more than they care for themselves.
These are usually mothers, wives or girlfriends. Though sometimes it's children or friends. But what they all have in common is they're afraid the person will die unless he gets help.
I periodically hear from a loving mother from the Midwest, whose son has been homeless for some time. He's an adult, and I think he has a child of his own.
In spite of her best efforts she can't convince him to find recovery. She's told him about TLC. And I'm sure she's pointed out other opportunities in his area where he could get sober. But his disease has such a grip on him that he's not open to recovery.
We addicts understand the challenges he's facing in making a decision. There's something about his using that's still working for him. He likely hasn't had enough pain yet.
But the sad thing is what his mother goes through. She prays and hopes that he'll see the light, that he'll get sober. When reading her emails I can sense her pain - and how much she cares for him.
Addicts are fond of saying things like "I never hurt anyone but myself." But, if they had a real grasp of what their loved ones go through they might quit making statements like that.
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