We hear that addicts have to have had enough before they "want " to get clean and sober. What about when we the family have had enough? I think we have been there a million times and think every time, that this is it. Only to no avail. Then we ask is there anybody out there to help the families? "Sure" we are told when we make the phone calls. But it always comes down to how much money do you have to spend. If I had a tenner for every time a drug counselor tells us that, I may be able to pay for these "upmarket" clinics.

I appreciate that treatment is a specific field of expertise, but am I the only one who thinks that some of these so called "professionals" try to manipulate us as much as our bratty addict children. I got told recently "what is the price you can put on your child's head - surely it is priceless" if that's not the best sales pitch I have ever heard, then I don't know. We have done the expensive treatment route twice, that cost the same as a luxury vehicle with all the trimmings and the irony is as soon as they have the money, they don't seem to think that my "child's life is so priceless" anymore. I have found more honesty, love, kindness, compassion and true decency in support groups and that's the route I am going to travel until I find out when enough is enough!