Speak Up

Her name is Heather, she has been my best friend for over 17 years, and our birthday's are only 4 days apart. We used to do everything together—sleepovers, parties, and make plans for our future. Unfortunately, our long term plan included more than going to college together, it also included getting high until we died.

After a few years of using weed, coke, meth, and drinking a lot of alcohol, we no longer wanted to go to college. We decided to start selling meth.

In the process, Heather got pregnant and moved away. I stayed in the small town we both used in and waited for her to come back. After she moved back, we both lost someone near and dear to us—my mom. Heather and I got worse in our using. I was depressed, lost, and I looked like a twig with pick marks on my face.

Not long after I got caught, I was sent to prison, and later got put on probation. Eventually, at the age of 19, I went to live with my uncle who offered me a chance to go to college. Somehow, I found the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA). I have been in recovery with NA for about 8 years and I am almost 8 years clean. I never moved back to Arizona, but I go see Heather every time I am there. She has 3 beautiful children, but her life has not been as fruitful or fulfilling as mine. She continues on a negative and detrimental path. Last time I convinced her to go to detox, but the unit did not find a rehab that would accept her. She said she would quit, but its been 2 months and she hasn't. She is homeless, has abandoned her kids, and has started shooting up instead of smoking it. I live 6 states away.

I need help, advice, and any suggestions! I know what I have learned from staying clean, but I need some unique suggestions rather than "just hope and pray that she wants to do it on her own." She is in too deep, meth and alcohol are too powerful to make her quit on her own. I need other ideas, this has gone on too long and I need to do something. Please help.