Heroin Overdose: Methadone Detox Facts

Question: My son died of a heroin overdose. i didn't even know he used drugs?

(Posted by: gwynn on 2010-07-09 18:11:45)

My 25 year old son recently died of a heroin overdose. I am having an extremely hard time dealing with the loss, and I cannot find any closure. I had no idea he even used drugs. He was a funny, bright, intelligent young man, with everything going for him. He has dealt with depression in the past, although he always hid it well. I honestly never knew he used any type of drugs, ever. I am absolutely heartbroken. How could I have not known? I feel like if I had known, I could have done something about it. I just hope he didn't suffer in his last moments of life. What happens to a person when they overdose on heroin, is it painful? I just pray he went peacefully.

Posted by: Wow! I have a pig nose! on 2010-07-09, 18:14:25

I'm sure he did go peacefully...I think the only way you'll find closure is if you join a support group and join an anti-drug group and share your story...You will make a difference for a lot of parents who are unaware of their family member's drug use Good Luck and God Bless

Posted by: Canadian Bacon on 2010-07-09, 18:17:06

He almost certainly went very peacefully. Heroin overdoses cause respiratory failure, so he just would have fallen asleep and never woken up. You said yourself that he was always good at hiding his problems...you couldn't have known.

Posted by: 1oldone on 2010-07-09, 18:22:07

A person who does this drug passes out so he felt nothing, he just went to sleep. it is difficult for a parent to know what our kids are up to. there is little warning especially since he suffered from depression. he was probably on some drug for that so you may not have noticed any thing wrong. do not blame yourself for any of this. he made the choice to do this and he was responsible for the outcome, not you. I am sorry for your loss.

Posted by: Sara on 2010-07-12, 08:47:04

If he O.D he did not go peacefully. And if you lived with him then you should have known. They get skinny, eyes are droopy, they are always scratching. When someone O.ds is usually like a seizure so and they lose control. Not a pleasant way to go,