Sorry to hear a Loved one of your's is so sick, Addiction is a PHYSICAL problem a lot more than a "Mental" problem. I have learned about and read about in the past few month's. I have struggled with EXTREME Anxiety since I was around 14 or 15, and I still am at 37. I've been to several Pscychiatrists who have "Diagnosed" me with Generalized Anxiety disorder or Bipolar or Bipolar 2 or Manic-Depression, and lately even with some form/type of Scitzophrenia!! it seems like the Doctors are more worried about what "Label" to hang on me rather than helping me!! I dont have the so called "Panic Attacks", but rather I have Horrible Anxiety from the moment I wake up, all day, until I go to sleep at night. My Pscychiatrist has tried Numerous Anti-Depressants and Benzo's- (Valium, Xanax, Klonopin, etc.) They have helped somewhat, but after being in treatment with them for over 20 years, my Anxiety is nowhere near "Under control" I started "Self Medicating" with Alcohol over a decade ago, and of course it just compounded my "Issues" and soon became a very serious Drinking Problem, and YES I am an Alcoholic!!! One of my Sisters still lives here in my town, and we are VERY close. All my other sibiling's have moved away from here. About 3 years ago my sister was trying to help me get Sober, This was when I was extremely deep in my Alcoholism. She told me to call her rather than go to the Liquor store, well one day I did call her, and she came to my Apartment and gave me a bag with 4 pills in it, and told me that when that Uncontrolable desire to drink hit me, to take one of those pills and it should help my Anxiety enough that I wouldn't have to drink to calm my Anxiety. The pills turned out to be Lortabs, and when I took the first one, yes it did take away nearly ALL of my Anxiety, and I stopped drinking almost entirely!! I thought that the Pain Pills were the answer to my prayers. My relationship with my Family, especially with my Mom and Dad was repaired, and everyone was so proud of me for stopping the drinking. I ********ted them and Myself into that as long as I had some pain pills I wouldn't drink, I even ********ed a couple of family members into getting them for me when my "Doctor Shopping" no longer worked. And I honestly didn't think that taking pain pills and getting other people to get them for me was totally insane, if not dangerous. I could no longer get pain pills from any Doctor anywhere so I relied on other people (Family, Friends, etc.) to get them for me, and it wasn't long before they could "keep me" in pills because they both were taking pain Meds. for Real Medical problems. My "tolerance" for the pills had got so high that if I had them it was not unusual at all for me to take 20+ Lortabs and almost as many Percocets in one day!! I started Stealing them from family, or begging and pleading for them from my family that they started to give me pills that they NEEDED for there Chronic "Real" Pain. They were suffering because I was taking there pain meds that they could NOT spare!! This went on for pretty much the last year or so. I know that I am an Addict, and iv'e been trying to get off the pills for the last several months. I knew I could do it, but I also knew that I couldn't do it on my own. I knew that I needed some "Help" but I soon learned that if you dont have insurance or a LARGE bank account that it was nearly impossible to get help. I wanted and Needed to get on Suboxone or some other "Detox" meds that have been available recently. But only a few Doctors in my area of 50-60 miles dealt with Suboxone. I finally found a Doctor about 35 miles from me and he started me on Suboxone "Treatment" I saw him 9 days ago, got some Suboxone, and I have NOT had ANY Narcotic's/Pain Pills at ALL!!!
I am really sorry that your'e Uncle is in "Denial" about his addiction!! Because by reading your'e post I could tell that he is just like I am when it comes to drug addiction!! Because a whole bunch of my Family members, friends and even employer's knew I needed help, and they have tried EVERYTHING they could do possibly think of to get me to Quit the Pills, but sadly until I decided on my OWN that I wanted OFF the pills there was NOTHING anyone could do for me!! And it sounds like your'e Uncle is the same way, Being Drug Addicts like me and youre uncle, there is NOTHING anyone can do to help, or even convince us that we have an extremely bad, even life threatning addiction!! In my case I had to finally decide for myself and myself only, that I WANTED and NEEDED help BEFORE there was ANY chance of me getting help period!!! And I am afraid to say that until your'e Uncle decides he Needs and WANTS help, there is little if ANYTHING that ANYONE can do for him!!! I just hope your'e uncle comes to terms with his addiction before its to late!! I know ive only got 9 days of being "Clean" and I feel kinda silly giving advise, but I know that I am a drug addict, and I know how an addict thinks, acts and feels!! Hopefully your'e Uncle will GO GET the help HE NEEDS before it's to late!!! But HE has to do it on his OWN!!