Read Part I of the story here.

On October 25, 2008 Glen received a settlement from the insurance company.  He put $50,000 in the bank to use for a down payment on a house.  He could not buy a house until his Social Security Disability was approved.  He had to show some kind of income and was unable to work.

On August 3, 2009: Glen filled out a “Pain Questionnaire” for Social Security.  He states:  His pain is located in his right leg, ankle, and foot.  It feels like it is broken.  His leg hurts and makes him suddenly depressed.   It hurts 24/7.  The pain never goes away.  It last forever.  Rest relieves his pain overnight.  He smokes medical marijuana daily to help mostly with the anxiety.  He stops activities all the time because of pain.  He can no longer skateboard, does sports, goes running, or goes places that require walking.

On August 10, 2009: Another denial for Social Security benefits.

On February 28, 2010: Glen had me take him to the Parkview Emergency Hospital Medical Center to see if he could get something that would help him detox off of Oxycotton.  He was seen by a doctor in Urgent care and given a prescription that was of no help. He became even more upset when he got the bills for this visit.  He said it was a waste of money. This is when I learned that Glen had given up, after his denial of Social Security death benefits on August 10, 2009, and he start self medicating on Oxycotton in September of 2009.  While Glen was taking Oxycotton exclusively, he appeared to be fine.  You would have never guessed that he was addicted to drugs.

On April 22, 2010 Glen had spent all of his $50,000 on Oxycotton and ran out of money. He start hitting the walls and throwing things in his room.  He was having a major anxiety attack.  I called his brother Steve to come over and try to get him to check into the Mental Health emergency treatment center.  I was very concerned that Glen could be suicidal at this point.  Steve talked to Glen and got him to agree to let him take him there.

During Glen’s five day stay at ETS (Mental Health Emergency Treatment Center), they once again diagnosed him as bipolar Type II, with depression, and anxiety.  They classified him as gravely disabled.  They stated that he continues to have frequent mood swings and gets easily unstable and could be a danger to others.  They recommended inpatient treatment.   However, on April 27, 2010 Glen was discharged and prescribed three medications:  Depakote (mood swings), Citalopram (anxiety), Trazodone (insomnia).

After Glen’s release from ETS, I called all over trying to find a rehabilatation Center that would take him.  I ran into an assortment of problems:

They didn’t take dual diagnosis.

They had a waiting list.

They were too expensive.

The person had to call in everyday, until they had a bed available.

Drug Rehabilitation Centers assume, that if a drug addict is truly serious, they will continue to call in for weeks and wait for their turn at being accepted into rehab.  This is ridiculous!  Your loved one may have periodical times where they understand and seek help, but to believe this awareness will last for weeks at a time is unrealistic to say the least.  More probable is that they will weaken and once again resort back to their drug addiction to relieve their pain.  Affordable rehabilitation should be offered immediately, when the drug addict reaches out for help.  I wish every person who is responsible for the funding of  immediate treatment could feel the unbelievable pain in losing a loved one to drugs.

Methadone treatment was the only treatment center that would see my son right after he was released from ETS.  When I offered this solution to my son he said, “Mom, I don’t want to get methadone every day.  I want to be off of drugs!”

Glen and Jimmie Sleeping

On May 20, 2010 Was Glen’s first appointment with Sac Health Norton in San Bernardino to get prescribed medication for his pain.  He had follow up visits on 6/3 and 6/16/10.  The doctor started him out on very low dose of Oxycodone.

Late in the night (June 30, 2010), Glen did a speed ball (heroin and meth).  It was only 2 months after Glen ran out of money and he must have got desperate and did a drug his body wasn’t use to. Glen was sick all the next day.  He just moaned.  I had never seen him like this before, and asked him several times if he wanted me to take him to the hospital or call 911.  He would say, no.  He said, he was hot and I told him the air conditioner was already on.  He had me aim the fan directly at him and then said, that was better.  I stayed home all that day in case he changed his mind about going to the hospital or needed anything.  All he wanted was water.  Around 10 pm I asked again if I could get him anything.  Glen asked for a cup of hot tea.  I ran down to the corner supermarket and bought bags of hot tea and various other items that I thought would help his stomach.  I made the hot tea and brought it to his room at about 10:30 pm.  I set the tea down on his coffee table and kissed him on the forehead.  His skin felt cool, but I assumed it was due to the air conditioner and the fan being on him all day.  I left his door opened and went to bed, hoping he would feel better in the morning.

Read Part III – “When I Found Him”

Read Part IV – Glens Video

–

This story was shared with our organization through the incredible bravery of Glen’s Mother.  We want people to be aware that medications can be addictive and deadly.  We encourage anyone who is concerned about a loved one to seek help for prescription drug addiction immediately before it is to late.