Losing a brother to crack

[nitrogen]

My prayers and thoughts go to him, you and your families.

I'd suggest you and your family seek out a support group for family members of drug addicts. There's groups like Families Anonymous, and Nar-anon especially for families, and your local church might know of other locally.

There's also things you can do, like interventions. PM me if you want to know more about those (I've done a few for family violence)

[age_ranger]

Unless he has broken the law, is there anything they can do?

Sure can - being a convicted felon with a handgun or if he's on any kind of probation or parole. It just depends upon his particular circumstances or situation.

If he's in south Dallas scoring dope he needs to be more worried about the dealers than the police. Does he have any warrants out that are associated with his license plate?

I think his probation from his previous "vacations" is over. We've done interventions, rehab, prison.......he has gone through seperations and faced divorce. Problem is that his wife wont' go through with anything adn won't press charges. Right now he can't be charged with anything unless he's caught with dope or firearm. Sad, truly sad. I've talked to my neighbor and they're going to let DPD in on it.

I stopped by his old house on the way home (he still owns it, but not for long) There hasnt' been anyone there for a few days but some girls stuff is on the porch. Obviously a user by the looks of the stuff....broken pipes and such. Nothing missing (it's furnished) so I guess it's a good thing.

On that trip I took a Beretta 8045 with a 4" barrel in a fanny pack for easy access in the vehicle and walking around the house. It was loaded up with Winchester Rangers.

[Wildscar]

Sorry to hear about your brother like that. I had a friend that went though a similar thing but another friend and I basically beat it in to him that what he was doing wasn't the right path. Sound like your brothers to far past that. I know it goes with out saying but watch you back while your around his house like that and if you need an extra set of eyes I am pretty good at that .

I know I hate to dig up another part but do you think this has any connection to your break in a few weeks ago

If you need help with anything you got my number.

[KRM45]

I'd suggest you and your family seek out a support group for family members of drug addicts. There's groups like Families Anonymous, and Nar-anon especially for families, and your local church might know of other locally.

This is good advice... Al-anon is another option.

It might help to talk through these issues with others that have been through the wringer and came out on the other side so to speak...

[age_ranger]

Well, on a hunch I went to his old house (he has two....but not for long) Anyway, I pulle dup...no electricity but the furniture and everything is there. There were a few bags on the porch with a note for some girl asking her not to come back. Apparently, she must have been a workign girl as her bags (see through) were full of condoms, lube and other things. I'll spare you the details. So, at least he hadn't been there and it appeared nobody had been for a few days.

Riding along with me was Gannet (My Beretta 8045) and thankfully, she didn't remotely need to clear the holster.

Dallas PD will be getting all the info along with possible vehicle descriptions and that he's known to pick up street guns and carry them.

I decided it was best to tell my kids about it. How do you tell a 6yr old that their uncle can't come over and that they need to stay away from him? Life is tough, but explaining things to your kids sometimes is tougher!! I just laid it all out and tried my best to answer their questions with truth and honesty. I hope they never get into drugs and stay the course. They'll surely get my blessing to join up here when the time comes. Thanks to all for your support in a troubling time.

[NguyenVanDon]

Sorry to hear about that bro. Hope things getting better as the day goes by.

[Wildscar]

I decided it was best to tell my kids about it. How do you tell a 6yr old that their uncle can't come over and that they need to stay away from him? Life is tough, but explaining things to your kids sometimes is tougher!! I just laid it all out and tried my best to answer their questions with truth and honesty. I hope they never get into drugs and stay the course. They'll surely get my blessing to join up here when the time comes. Thanks to all for your support in a troubling time.

That right there had to be the hardest part of this. I salute you for having the gall to do the right thing. I would have hated to see the post from you had he contacted them and them not knowing any of this.

[govnor]

Crack is demonic. I've dealt with it a little. That and heroin junkies, there isn't much difference.

One ex-crackhead I knew told me that when you're on it, you don't think about anything else. Just when you're going to get high the next time. She prostituted herself out and everything. Got clean and eventually went back and is now dead.

I'm not trying to discourage you. Unfortunately the only way someone can get off of it is to do it themselves. There's not much you can do except provide help if asked. I'm not talking about money either...if he calls you and wants help you have to put him in a rehab. I'm sure you know this already anyway. I hate to hear about someone going down that path.

[age_ranger]

No word on anything. Of course, I'm always the last to know. I didn't know he was missing until the other day....a few days after he disappeared. All I can say is that we're on a hightened state of readiness. My kids know to call the police if he comes here and we've decided to have the kids stay at another house tonight as opposed to having a baby sitter come over while we're out. I've reloated my firearms and stored valuables elsewhere. The wife has the Kimber OC until her permit comes in from Utah (still waiting ) and I'm packing the Kahr religiously with the Cougar in the vehicle as a quick access pistol while driving. I don't pity him any more. In fact, if he turns up around my home, I'll call him in myself. I'm not angry, but he's a danger to others and himself, of which the latter is not of any consequence to me anymore.

I know feeling sad about it is mostly because he's family, but he's not the brother I knew before and will never be again. If I get the chance to speak with him again, I'm going to tell him that and request he never call or see me again. I don't have room in my family's life for a drug addict nor do I want to subject my family to anything he might have. It's bad enough he subjects his own children to it. (left drugs where his kids could get them and came home high as a kite)

Should he take his life or have it taken, I'll go to the service and take my family. Hopefully my kids see and learn from it. Hopefully, I won't hear that another family is having a service of their own due to my brothers actions. Not knowing what's going on is probably the worst of it all.........

[seamusTX]

I decided it was best to tell my kids about it. How do you tell a 6yr old that their uncle can't come over and that they need to stay away from him?

When I was five years old, my grandfather tried to beat my father with a shovel. I was there and saw everything.

My grandfather had been mentally ill and an alcoholic for most of his adult life, but he had kept it together until that point. He was committed to a state mental hospital, which was the usual thing at that time (1960).

My parents told me that he had a sickness that made him act that way and he wasn't a bad person. They answered whatever questions I had (I don't remember what they were). I accepted it. It wasn't a major trauma.

You and your family have my prayers and good wishes for getting through this trial.

- Jim

[KD5NRH]

The wife has the Kimber OC until her permit comes in from Utah (still waiting )

How does she feel about shotguns? If the vehicle is conducive to it, a shotgun or small carbine in the back floorboard under a blanket would be a lot more reliable against a drugged-up attacker.

[RPBrown]

Your not alone in this. I too have a brother that went down this path.
Fortunatly he has been clean for a couple of months.I pray he stays that way but after so many years, I have my doubts.

As others have said, try Nar-Anon for help with your pain. It does help.

[age_ranger]

Well, he had showed up and we thought that things might be at an end but alas........he returned to get more from his home and is back out. This is the worst time yet. He's mentally fried and is halucinating and losing control. He's off again and we think this is the final straw.........

My prayers to DPD and his family. His wife and three chikdren will be taking the full force of his addiction. Drugs are such a destructive thing and truly ruining lives. I had no idea of how much it effects a family until now. I've always heard of how it did, but until recently, I really was cluelsss about how bad it is. Luckily, we educate our family and try our best to keep everyone informed.

It pains me that there are people out there who don't care about their fellow man and would feed addictions to make a profit. It's truly a sad world we live in.

[phddan]

I feel for you man.

Try not to let it get you down to much.

Stay safe.

Dan

[govnor]

Yeah, you can't even talk to someone that's that far down the road. Maybe he'll hit rock bottom and see that he's alone and get help. I wish you and your family the best.