I THINK MY LITTLE BROTHER IS USING METH. I REALLY DONT KNOW THE SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS BUT HE IS LYING TO OUR FAMILY ALL THE TIME, HIS FRIENDS HAVE BEEN BUSTED FOR IT BEFORE, AND HE DOESNT EVER WANT TO BE AROUND ANY OF OUR FAMILY. HE JUST FINISHED HIS FRESHMAN YEAR IN COLLEGE AND I DONT EVEN THINK HE PASSED. HES GETTING VERY SKINNY, AND HE LOOKS LIKE HES AGED 3 OR 4 YEARS IN JUST ONE YEAR. IM SCARED. HES SUCH AN AWESOME PERSON AND I FEEL LIKE I DONT KNOW HIM ANYMORE. HOW DO I FIND OUT IF HE IS USING?????????????????????????????????????????

It sure sounds like your brother may be using. I know very little about the drug world but, I did find it helpful to google meth just to become more educated on the signs and what to look for. My step daughter is using and it has had a very negative impact on her life and her family. I am doing my best to be supportive of her and not get sucked into the maddness in her life. It has been my experience that there is little I can do except monitor my grand children's saftey.  Maybe you could try talking to him and sharing your fears.  It may take his own arrest to wake him up. As far as signs my daughter is very very skinny and has sores on her face. I wish you the very best and pray for your brother and you.

 

Dear Kristen, I would strongly advise you to be very investigative and "nosey" into your brother's affairs at this point. If he has already gotten to the point where he doesn't even seem like the same person AND all his friends are using/gotten busted, there is a VERY good chance he is using too. Again, I strongly suggest to you that you or other loved ones interfere. He is on a path to self-destruction. I saw this drug take my sister - she is now in prison. You are right - it turns them into a completely different person. Please intercede. Best wishes, Richard  fire safes

i would also suggest trying to get to him without your parents at first. siblings tend to trust eachother more than their parents in matters like this.

 You should aks your brother if he takes meth, that's the best way to find out. If you don't catch him taking it, there's no other alternative. If he trusts you, he'll tell you the truth. It's a difficult situation and not easy to ask such a question but I am sure it will get things started.

You cannot always believe them. If you have things disappearing, if he sleeps like he is dead or for long periods of time. If he loses his appetite then buy a drug kit and surprise him with a test. You could save his life.

I don't know how old you are, but I would ask him first and the definately let your parents know. Something is going on with him, that's obvious. Keep in mind that whatever you do,  you're doing to save his life because  you love him. You might feel dorky or like you're making too much of the situation, or...or...or...whatever. You aren't, your not, and you should do something NOW.

 www.thenext24.blogspot.com

Agree. This is a situation where it's better to err on the safe side - address the issue no matter how awkward it may feel

---

"It's always the movers that shake the world"

 

Your brother has signs of being a meth user. Since they stay up for days, and rarely eat.(why he is getting skinny). When they "come down" they are very irritable,and will sleep for days. Yes he will lie, cheat and steal just to get enough for his next high. The best words I can offer is try to get him into a drug program.I high doubt he will go,he has to hit rock bottom first.But when he does he is gonna need all your love and support.  Good luck and I am praying for the whole family.

kristenburns:

I THINK MY LITTLE BROTHER IS USING METH. I REALLY DONT KNOW THE SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS BUT HE IS LYING TO OUR FAMILY ALL THE TIME, HIS FRIENDS HAVE BEEN BUSTED FOR IT BEFORE, AND HE DOESNT EVER WANT TO BE AROUND ANY OF OUR FAMILY. HE JUST FINISHED HIS FRESHMAN YEAR IN COLLEGE AND I DONT EVEN THINK HE PASSED. HES GETTING VERY SKINNY, AND HE LOOKS LIKE HES AGED 3 OR 4 YEARS IN JUST ONE YEAR. IM SCARED. HES SUCH AN AWESOME PERSON AND I FEEL LIKE I DONT KNOW HIM ANYMORE. HOW DO I FIND OUT IF HE IS USING?????????????????????????????????????????

Hey kiddo...

Sorry to hear that you might have just awakened to holding a dragon by it's azz; a few questions?

Cursory Note of Warning:

My style is BLUNT and to the point - nothing personal - it developed from 10+ years of slamming Meth...

I see you haven't returned to te advice presented to reply since the original post...

How old - you AND Brother?

How CLOSE would you say the FAMILY has been - is presently - how much EFFORT are you all willing to place into your sibling IF it IS METH' INSANITY?

The symptoms you cite MIGHT have a close resemblence to CRANK DAMAGE - but could also be ascribed to being on his own and in the world for his first time, a heavier load than he anticipated at college, ALCOHOL, sexual identity or personality problems just manifesting, I mean - you'd really need to be much mre explicit here in order to get a close handle on a defiinitive YES or NO...

As far as "HOW DO YOU FIND OUT IF..."

Again - that depends on HOW CLOSE you actually are -I mean - CAN YOU schedule a weekend getaway - RIGHT AFTER dude get's a PAYDAY?

Does brother know YOU as his straight laced SISSI who has never smoked a ciggarette and freaks out if she smells pot - or could you wrangle him up all alone and drama, "Man! I'm SO BURNT and bummed - broke and needin... I wish I could just [insert any of the following: "do a line", "smoke some glass", "fire up some go", "SPIN AWHILE", "Get Spun", "Hey little brother - can ya spare some: Go Fast, Rocket Fuel, DaDa"... etc..  HERE]...

POSSIBLY - he'll smile and pull up a seat, whip out a little baggy of uh oh and you'lll have an answer...

POSSIBLY - he'll smack you upside the head and say - "SIS - YOU DON'T WANNA MESS WITH THAT - TRUST ME"

POSSIBLY, he'll get paranoid as shat and avoid your inquiry and then discover a hasty reason to leave.

IF YOUR FAMILY is a tight knit unit and you all CAN SEE one another on a regular basis - it's REALLY NOT a tough tell.

Watch the eyes, the mouth, the hands... Grinding the teeth, constant twitching, eyes - ah heck - I THINK the pupils constrict with this - but it might be dialtion... bester google it...

KCI METH RECOVERY has a WONDERFULLY ACTIVE board for both Recovering Addicts, Loved Ones, Support Staff, et' al.

If you care to actually tear off a hunk and get into the meat of this - feel free to holler back.

gypsy

MMTYT

I just love how people come here and in their first and only post ask for help and that's it. This post is over 3 months old and still members are replying 

i would actually say that all the symptoms you are witnessing like being under weight or not wanting to be with family and friends are gettin busted for it. those are all good sighns of meth using i would advice you to ask your brother whats so wrong with his life that he has to escape reality jus let him know you are there for him if he needs you. and can talk about whatever because people need that family showing love and actually taking the time to ask about his day . i would say look up meth online and show your brother look this is what this stuff does to your body because most meth users dont know what it does or either dont really care . surround him with love an the people who love him the most hopfully if its not to late he will realize that his family is worth alot more that a stupid high and he will lose that if he continues.but try not to be  mean. be compassionate and dont push because it takes time.and if you want to talk some more you are very welcome to shoot me a message .if not i hope good things happen for you and your brother take care :)

I'm a survivor of meth and alcohol, they both tried to kill me and i survived... I have 6 years clean and sober. I had to go to prison to get off of meth. I have an awesome family and loving children who also went through my addiction with me. If he's only been doing it a couple years he'll have to go to a detox. After a few clean weeks a treatment for meth specifically can start the help he needs. But only he can decide to not be around those "people" he's around now. Other meth users will pursue you if you are a  productive participant. God saved me because my children prayed and asked Him to. And thats exactly what you'll have to do for your brother. Jesus will bring him out I'm sure of it. God keep him safe and your family strong.