I Have An Alcoholic, Stealing, Homeless Son

by Becky
(Marinette, Wisconsin )

My 26 year old son is an alcoholic. Not the kind of kid that goes out and parties. He goes to work at a filthy grinding facility for very low pay. This is the only job he can get "because they don't do a piss test." After work he hits the liquor store and buys what he'll need for the night to get drunk enough to pass out. Alone. In his bedroom.

A couple years ago I talked him into going into a 28 day inpatient treatment program. He did great! He was most improved. Two weeks after he came home he was drinking again. So, according to the agreement we made while he was in treatment, I had to kick him out. He was homeless.

After a few weeks, my daughter, his little sister, took him in. They rent my husband's home from before we were married from us.

The last year has been a living nightmare for her. He passes out all over the house, then wets himself or vomits. All of her furniture is ruined.

In the last 6 months or so, he started stealing. He's come into our house, stolen our change jars, my husband's prescription, and lain on my bed and wet himself. Then he left, stealing my husband's bicycle.

He steals my daughter's money, food (he refuses to pitch in for groceries), he steals anything and everything. I'm wondering if he's added another drug to his addictions.

Tonight we had to evict him again. This time from my daughter's house.

I feel like a horrible mother knowing my son will be homeless in northern Wisconsin in wintertime. I cry a lot. I feel guilty. I do understand that it’s not my problem and that only he can change and that he learned about all the tools and resources to do so while he was in rehab. But I still feel just sick.