A Myrtle Beach area couple shared their story about how they found help for their son who was addicted to pain killers. They shared that story with News 13 in hopes that others will reach out for help if they need it.
“Finally one doctor said that he (our son) was going through opiate withdrawals. We didn’t know. Now I know all the signs and symptoms,” said the mother.
But more than four years ago, the couple had no idea how strong the cravings of addiction could be. They didn’t give their names to protect their son’s privacy. He got hooked on prescription pain killers, and then turned to finding opioids however he could.
“They get the kickbacks and money and stuff like that by prescribing them. It’s a big moneymaking business, but you know you gotta realize what it’s doing to our society. It’s all over,” she commented.
“I tried to cure him – to head it off – but I couldn’t do it. As a mother you just keep trying and trying, but it’s up to them.”
The father explained some of the challenges off addiction that affected the entire family.
“It was hard because a lot of times I felt I pushed him. We fought, and it got very tumultuous,” he said. “I just gave up. I felt like giving up on them and saying I just can’t deal with this anymore.”
After trying a few treatment programs in New Jersey they moved to the Grand Strand last year.
“We were in denial,” the father said. “We were thinking there’s not going to be that kind of drugs that there was up there and everything. (But) You just don’t run away from it.”
They heard about F.A.V.O.R. Faces And Voices Of Recovery. The organization found a grant to pay for inpatient treatment at the Owl’s Nest in Florence. Now with a 12-step program their son is doing better, and they each have their own recovery coach to help the entire family.
“He’s six months into recovery now. I know it’s one day at a time, and we just hope for the best,” the mother said.
One of the things they say didn’t work well for their son was medication assisted treatment, but they know many others have success with it. The treatment uses medication to wean people off of their opioid addiction.
