Expert: Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist - 10/9/2007

Question
Recently, my nephew went to court for selling drugs [coke, pot, Konopin(?)] but case was continued w/o finding. I've just found out that he has stolen some checks from his grandmother and has written some of them. Rumor had it last year he stole some $ from her - he and his dad live w/her.
My brother is helpless in getting his son help. My mother wants my nephew to get a job to pay her back - she is thinking of covering the checks (bad move in my opinion). Nephew can't hold a job. I am worried about all of their safety. Until we can get my mom to make a stand with her son to get him rehab, what else will an addict do?

This seems like something I've read about or seen on TV with a classic kid hooked on drugs - 1st stealing a little $$, then stealing checks and writing out larger amounds. We are worried about what the next 'typical' step is for an addict, and worried about my mother's safety with him living there. He is her 1st grandchild - so I guess at this time she doesn't want to send him to jail. I have not talked to her since my sister told me what is happening - my Mom just told her last night.

Who can help locally?  He has a parole officer but I don't know who he/she is and whether we can call them. My guess is that he'll go to jail if the court finds out he has written checks for over $300 each.

Dave

Answer
Hi Dave,
You are so right. This is classic example of how drug addicts finish up in jail. First steal money from the immediate family , and then from other people.

I had one client who stole money from his mother. She reported it to the police and the judge put him in jail for on week for me to write a Court Report. I tell you this was the best treatment. But of course you still have to treat the underlying causes of addiction. Most addicts have underlying metabolic disorder that cannot be treated by on week in jail.

Please read:

Drug Addition is a Nutritional Disorder at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/drug_addictions_nutritional_disorder.htm...

“Treatment of Drug Addiction”
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/treatment_drug_addiction.html

Please discuss with a doctor.

_______________________________________________
Jurriaan Plesman BA (Psych) Post Grad Dip Clin Nutr
Editor of
The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia.
www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Author of "Getting off the Hook"
Freely available at Google Book Search