bjmmank
Newbie
Reged: 02/11/03
Posts: 38
Loc: PA
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Well here's the story. I get 100 Vicodin Es every 25 days from my local Doc.I had almost a full bottle and went to get one and they were gone. I know my brother took them, he denies it though. He has stolen them before but never the whole bottle. My brother has a VERY nasty heroin habit and if he doesn't have any he goes through extreme withdrawl vicodin stops withdrawl. It is very difficult to get high from them when your tolerance to opiates is that high. Plus he can sell them for a couple bucks a peice to get money to buy more heroin. I need the meds very bad for my back(They barely work as it is). I talked to my doctor to get more and he said I have to file a police report to get a new script. Here is my question: can I just tell the police I don't no who took them? I know my brother needs help but I don't want him to go to jail, and I'm afraid if I don't tell the cops who I think took them, they will think that I abuse and/or sell them. I think I have to show the Doc the police report and I don't want him to think I am lying about them being stolen. Has this happened to anybody else? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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myrrine
Member
Reged: 08/10/03
Posts: 163
Loc: Western PA
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Ok this is just a suggestion...so only take it as that, because this is a very delicate matter as you well know.
If you brother needs help then maybe going to the police will be exactly what he needs. Often in these cases they will make him go to a rehab, court ordered. It may not really cure him, but maybe it will be a wakeup call.
You could say oyu don't know who took them, but the police would know, and so would your doctor. They would probably investigate your brother anyhow, because these kind of crimes occur by someone who knows the person. The hard fact is that your brother is already in trouble and eventually it's going to catch up with him. Reporting him will won't make his condition worse...it will Best if kept off the board him off obviously, but it could help...
But honestly, I don't know what I would do, because it's your brother and he's family. It's hard. However, like I said this could help him in the long run...letting his habit go to those extremes isn't helping him either...
Good luck, my thoughts are with you.
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They say "time marches on," I just never got used to the beat...
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PrivateRealm
Threadhead
Reged: 03/18/03
Posts: 927
Loc: usa
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I have to agree with the above post. Your doctor will probably want to see the report, and I suspect that the police will know that you are aware of who took your meds. Also, if this happens again(which in the future, I suggest locking up your meds), they will need to know exactly who is doing it. I would tell them that your brother took them. He needs help one way or the other. People who have substance abuse problems will not get help until they are aware themselves how bad their problem is. In order for that to happen, they need a, or even a few, wake up calls. This sounds like it is time for one. He obviously wasn't trying to hide the fact by taking only a few if he took them all. Also, think of yourself. If this does, by chance, ever happen again, how many times do you think your doctor will keep handing out scripts for you? Many doctors will not. I would take care of yourself.
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KeriAnne~~~
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take - but by the moments that take our breath away."
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chevygal
Veteran
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 504
Loc: Way down south
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hey bjmmank,
I know you love your brother and this make is so hard. THis is my experience. I had/have a brother who has an addiction. "I" was the one that narced on him. Lots of reasons why I had to do it. I didn't go to the police. There are 8 of us kids and between us we figured we could help him. We did for a while. ANyway, As private realm said, you really do need to take care of you, as trying to help out, care and be patient with your brother truly is a losing battle. I don't mean that in a mean way. Things usually happen for a reason and htis may be your opportunity to help him even if he will not like you very much. If you tell the police he stole them he will most likely get the help he needs, not that he wants it right now. I know you have heard of tough love and this is one of those cases. If I were to be in your shoes, Yeah, I would tell hte police. Also, like private realm said, you will not get "your" meds from your doc and "you" will be the one to suffer. Tough situation, and I do feel for you. I guess what you should do is what your heart tell you to do, Just don't cut yourself short.
chevygal
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LostShopper
Enthusiast
Reged: 05/10/02
Posts: 210
Loc: Deep South
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It's always hard to give others advice regarding their own family situations and I can truly understand how torn you are. I have, however, been through the same with my sister. I felt, after years of thinking I could help her myself, that putting her in the hands of the authorities and letting her get a taste of the real consequences of her actions was the best course in the long run. Being an "enabler", no matter how much you love someone, does not help them in the long run.
I'm sorry this happened to you.
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singlesu
Enthusiast
Reged: 06/07/03
Posts: 276
Loc: kentucky
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I totally agree with all of the above posts. You are not doing your brother any favors by lying for him.
However, there is also another problem that was not addressed in the above posts. If you make a police report, and state that you don't know who stole the drugs, you are filing a false police report, which could get you in some very serious trouble.
I have learned through experience that people with serious drug and alcohol problems will lie, cheat and steal from anyone to support their habits.
What if your brother gets caught with your bottle of vicodan? He's going to tell the police that you gave them to him or say anything to keep his butt out of the wringer, and you could then be charged with filing a "false police report" because you knowingly lied.
The junkie will do anything to keep from getting into trouble and to support his habit. Do you think he will cover for you when you get into trouble for lying to the police.
Just something to think about. I've been there and done that, and you need to protect yourself, when all is said and done 
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I'm Denny Crane..........without a co-pilot
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IMSUSCOT1
Threadhead
Reged: 10/23/02
Posts: 925
Loc: usa
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I feel so bad...but you can bet your brother is betting on the fact that you'll feel too guilty to name him....Look, my mom has a #1a gambling addiction....and it's been the hardest thing to face..that my 70 year old mother has this problem...but she cleaned my brother out of $14,000, my grandmother out of $20.000 and is in to me for over $7,000 and I know, god love her, would take more in a minute if she could get her hands on it....WE ARE POWERLESS.... report it...they won't take him to jail...unless they can find evidence...and that's not you're problem. If you have a legitimate need for your meds, the police report is the way to do it...what happens after that is NOT on you, it's on you're brother, and HE wasn't thinking of YOU when he took them...It's highly unlikely he'll go to jail over this, and if he goes to jail, because of it, well, he'll get there one way or another anyway....so, do what you need to do, to take care of you, then find somewhere (work, a friends, etc) to stash the bulk of your meds, and keep a small, personal supply ON YOU AT ALL TMES>>>> good luck,
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Hey addiction is addiction no matter what form and it is all equally terrible. I have lost loved ones and friends to addiction. It's a beast that takes you over and there isn't anything you can do about it except get help. Look, we are nobody to tell you what to do especially when it concerns ratting out your own brother but if you want to help him then you have a really good chance to now. The other issue is that you are out of pills for your back! That's a big deal too. So by filing a report on your brother you would be helping both of you. Hope this helps... 
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JethroBodine
Enthusiast
Reged: 06/20/03
Posts: 292
Loc: Ozark Mountains
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Kicking is hard enough; kicking in jail would be the lowest. I'd tell my brother that is exactly what's going to happen to him unless he 1) goes to my doc and confesses and 2) checks into rehab. I'd also tell him I could probably overlook a few problems if he is really trying, but a month of pain just isn't worth it to me. I'd let him know that I know he is suffering, but now he's making me suffer too. By following the above suggestions he can right a wrong and begin the process of mending the suffering.
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??????????????????????????????
There's somethin' happenin' here.
What it is aint exactly clear.
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MrB
Old Hand
Reged: 12/12/01
Posts: 488
Loc: Rhode Island
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I agree with jethro. Enter rehap this weekend or file the report. Better in jail then dead.
MrB
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"I aint fallin for no banana in my tailpipe!"
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chevygal
Veteran
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 504
Loc: Way down south
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jethro
That is excellent advice. That didn't cross my mind when I posted, I am glad it did yours. As for him to confessing to his doc, I do hope the brother will do so as it will let the doc know that this "really" did happen and is not some sorry excuse and hopefully he will get his meds rescripted. ANd the brother can get some help. I hope the original poster can make this happen for both of their sakes, wonderful idea 
chevygal
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penzam1535
Member
Reged: 12/24/02
Posts: 193
Loc: between Syracuse and Buffalo
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I wish I had a brother......
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bjmmank
Newbie
Reged: 02/11/03
Posts: 38
Loc: PA
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thanks for all the great advice. I talked to the local police today and got the theft report. As the above post said, there is not much he can do about it since there is no evidence.(The bottle and pills are probably long gone)Luckily I have a small amount of T3's put back for emergencies. They should last till Monday when I get the new script. But... the local cop said he could talk to my brother and say that he has all the evidence he needs to arrest him if he doesn't go to rehab.(I didn't think cops could lie like that. I thought that was just on TV)
Again, thanks for all the advice.
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alphaman
Member
Reged: 06/07/03
Posts: 166
Loc: pittsburgh
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BJ also think about this, I would much rather my brother get in to trouble for a bottol of VIK's then some herion.
I do agree with everyone get him help now or someday he might be facing charges on something more serious then some viks well i hope everything works out for you and your brother.........heath
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Never Be so Open-Minded that your Brains Fall Out
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singlesu
Enthusiast
Reged: 06/07/03
Posts: 276
Loc: kentucky
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BJ, I just wanted to say that you have made a wise decision in taking the first step to possibly getting the help your brother needs. Just remember, stay strong, stay tough and let God take care of the rest. My prayers are with you
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I'm Denny Crane..........without a co-pilot
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zorg
Veteran
Reged: 04/29/02
Posts: 559
Loc: Midwest
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I know you've already dealt with this, but I wanted to offer another vote for "tough love". The sooner your bro gets a wake up call, the better chance he has from stepping back from the cliff edge he's standing on. I've had to do it, it wasn't easy, but it's for the best. It might not even work, but you've no other choice. Stay strong and good luck!
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zorg
Veteran
Reged: 04/29/02
Posts: 559
Loc: Midwest
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If you are able to right now, I'd also HIGHLY recommend buying a safe (with no external hinges) and BOLTING that badboy to the floor!!!!!!! Hiding the medication will do no good if he's determined and you are not present. PM me if you want help finding a model that can be secured to the floor.... it might be the only way to prevent this situation again if the tough love doesn't work!!
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Trampy
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/03/02
Posts: 1255
Loc: Southwest U.S.
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Quote:
... I talked to the local police today and got the theft report. As the above post said, there is not much he can do about it since there is no evidence.(The bottle and pills are probably long gone) ... But... the local cop said he could talk to my brother and say that he has all the evidence he needs to arrest him if he doesn't go to rehab.(I didn't think cops could lie like that. I thought that was just on TV) ...
Cops lie all the time. It's standard police procedure. They can talk to your brother to scare him, maybe trying to get him to confess ... or check into rehab ... but, unless there is good reason to believe that he still has the pills in his possession and someone knows where they are and will swear to that under penalty of perjury, it's not enough to have probable cause for a search warrant. Also, one person's accusatory word (if they're not law enforcement or a "reliable informant") is usually not enough to get a grand jury indictment. Depending on where you live, they might not be able to make it a felony charge. Sure, it could happen, but i would hope that most juries would only convict someone of a misdemeanor over a lost bottle of pills ... especially if the pills are not found in his possession.
The only exceptions to the above would be if he was on probation or parole. Then his civil rights are much less. They would drug test him, and if he tested positive for opiates and had no prescription, he'd be back in prison.
Trampy
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Your mileage may vary ...
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Richieboy67
Journeyman
Reged: 02/05/05
Posts: 71
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If you want to help your brother the last thing to do is get him tied up in the system. Have an intervention and make him go to a rehab for 6 months...
once he goes into jail he is ruined for life. Take it from someone who has been through it. Many years ago I was locked into the system and I have been scarred for life from it...
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LLBcajunldy
Stranger
Reged: 08/30/04
Posts: 8
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Let it be known in your house that your pain medicine is
missing, and that you are in severe pain because of this.
Make a show of looking around the house -saying "where could
that be?" Finally, say "the only thing you can think of is
that they were stolen." Mention how you hate "the
criminal that would steal these, and leave you in pain".
The, say loudly that you will file a police report tomorrow. Mention that you looked up the charge, and
that it is a felony. See if anything gives...
Confessing to your doc is a good idea - maybe
you could give your doc a heads up. He could
say that unless your brother goes directly to
rehab, he will report him. Have a place selected
and ready to receive him. Good luck!
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infliksta
Member
Reged: 10/29/03
Posts: 171
Loc: the coo coos nest
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do not rat on him to cops get some from nrop and kick your brothers [censored] the police thing will cost everyone way to much money to go that route my brother was a smack head for 3 years and stole 10.000$ from me and our parents so i know this situation and it won't help him one bit to go to jail and have all the fees he and your family can't pay. just look in your heart and you will find the answer to your problem and no one can make him get clean only himself and god. my brother has been h free for over 3 years now. his choice without any jail time. sending him to lock up will just kill your relationship and him. you have to be there for him no matter how bad it hurts you. or use a record op and you will have refills. look when my brother is over i hide everything i got just in case. so please don't make a mistake that you and your family will regret bigtime. if he gets clean he wont be able to get a good job with record and so many more terrible things that you can't even see right now. just remember he is your family and family is number 1. you'll make the right choice i hope.
i've been to jail pleanty of times when i was younger {nothing drug related} so i know how it ruins your life and career.. i have a degree and its hard to find work from stupid petty crimes.
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we're out of our medicine, out of our minds and we're wanting yours let us in.
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Dallaslocal
Stranger
Reged: 11/23/04
Posts: 13
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All you who have posted on 2/21/05 . . do you see when the date when this thread was started? I hope things have been resolved already . . .
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ashantie29
Member
Reged: 04/23/04
Posts: 140
Loc: Home of the BLUE Grass!
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Darn! I need to pay more attention. I read this entire thread today and thought it all happened in the last week or so. It was interesting reading anyway. Can the orginal poster post an update? That would be helpful.
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infliksta
Member
Reged: 10/29/03
Posts: 171
Loc: the coo coos nest
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thas funny, never even looked
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we're out of our medicine, out of our minds and we're wanting yours let us in.
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