Smoking MJ causes psychotic episodes in my 23 year old sz son. His last episode was 14 months ago and it took about a year for his recovery. During his recovery he has been med compliant, Invega. Just at the point where he seemed most recovered he went out and scored MJ again. I have now imposed additional requirements for him to be able to live at home, including attending dual diagnosis group therapy, and I have taken his phone away temporarily. He understands that if he continues to use MJ he will be homeless.
I have had therapy to help me cease being an enabler. Best thing I did for myself besides taking the NAMI classes.
I serve an eviction notice, myself (as opposed to law enforcement serving it; you donāt need to have them serve it). A form used in my state can be downloaded. If you have lived in the dwelling less than one year, a 30 day notice can be served. If you have lived in the dwelling more than one year, a 60 day notice is served. You need to be familiar with the eviction process.
The first time I served a 30 day notice my son took advantage of the 30 days and basically went just short of hog wild until the 30th day and left. The second time I told him Iād serve the formal notice but based on the last experience heād have 48 hours to leave, or Iād take him to the homeless shelter, or Iād call the police - his choice. (I did this knowing that thereād be little the police could do regarding forcing him to leave without following eviction procedures). Anyway, thereās enough rational thinking in him that heād rather avoid the police, so he left within the 48 hours.
Of course, within 4 hours on the streets, his Dad, feeling sorry for him, picked him up to stay at his house. In the past Iād have been spitting mad. But nowadays I have a little bit more understanding for a father who canāt bear the thought of his son on the streets. This stuff is tough.
Iām in California. I never thought Iād have to closely understand eviction procedures and apply them to my own son. Sigh. But knowing the ins and outs of eviction is just the legal, procedural part. The much harder aspect was getting to a place in my psyche and heart where I knew this was the only way forward.
Though he doesnāt live with me anymore, I see my son often, and for that Iām thankful.
My son has never smoked pot in his life. This meant that when he first experienced psychosis, he had some insight and could not pass it off as the effects of drugs. Over five years, after an initial period of denial (not anosognosia) he has engaged voluntarily with treatment, takes his monthly AP shots without being forced by me, made a complete recovery and nobody would ever guess he has schizophrenia if they hadnāt been told. I sometimes read these boards and ask myself whether my son really has sz because our experience is so different from everyone elseās. Then I realize that everyone elseās experience has the āpot factorā. Yes, I think pot is very, very bad for the recovery of people with sz. However, itās such a cultural/social problem in some communities, I donāt know how you solve it.
@Hatty, its always good to have a reminder that there are people who take meds for their scz and have good enough results that they do get back on with their lives.
He has a few friends (but wants more). He doesnāt have a good work history, which bothers him a lot, so he has applied to go to university in the autumn (heās in his early thirties now). He has been given a place so I am hoping and praying that he finds a nice girl while heās there!
It does also mean that although pot and sz are often correlated, it is unlikely that pot actually CAUSES sz. I donāt believe it does cause it, just that it makes sz harder to treat successfully. And since itās so common in society itās hard to convince people with sz that it is a danger to them
I think a lot of the folks who have family members that medicated successfully arenāt as frequently found on our forum. I have noticed we tend to get many people in crisis or in transition to a new, new normal. Makes sense, we need more support in the difficult times.
@DianeR, yes, my son now lives with his father. My son has more freedom with him and some increased responsibilities. However, his dad tolerates him smoking pot and being med non-compliant.