I tried to include paragraphs so my long post wouldn't run together. Apparently that didn't work :/ sorry!

Thank you so much for the response. I wasn't aware of the narcotics version of Al Anon. I'm not sure what the social services will entail but I will definitely do my research and also look into the website you suggested. Once again, thank you so much. It's comforting knowing there are people going through the same things and care. Makes the feelings of loneliness a little less harsh.

 

 

Southernmiss...welcome to the MIP family.  You explain perfectly the insanity we lived or live with also  and while my alcoholic/addict wife did not have the same level of anger and rage that a male addict has I was the one that acted out like that.  What she did was legal and real for her...she called the cops on me for the right reasons to protect her life and our property. I won't go into how bad it got though it was life threatening at times.  Alcohol and drugs are mind and mood altering chemicals so under the influence he is less than human and cannot be relied upon as when he is clean and sober.  You reached out for help here at MIP and can also reach out for help to the family services where you live including public safety and more; the hospital for instance.  This disease cannot be cured only arrested by total abstinence.  If he is in the grips of the disease it is predicting what is and will go on.  You are a victim of it as much as he is.  Find the face to face Al-Anon Family Groups in your area and call to find out where and when they get together that you might go sit and listen to their ESH (Experiences Strengths and Hopes) as we have.   Keep coming back to let us know how it is come...Love and prayers and support.   ((((hugs)))) 

I'm so sorry you are going through this and glad you have found us.  I agree that a Domestic Violence shelter would most likely have the information you want about legalities.  They will have been through this scenario many times.  It is clear that, like many addicts, your husband turns into someone he would never be when clean and sober.  We have to watch out and not underestimate the danger of those times when he doesn't know what he's doing.  It's easy to underestimate sometimes because we know he would never be threatening when he is in his right mind.  But they don't call them "mind-altering substances" for nothing.  So putting chains on the doors or things like that may not be enough.  I think it would be important to get both legal advice and advice on how to proceed when partnered with an addict - protecting yourself is more than the legal situation, it is also many practicalities. 

The website of the National Domestic Violence Hotline is here:http://www.thehotline.org/.

It has many pages on how to protect yourself.  Be sure to note the part about keeping important things (documents, etc.) stashed elsewhere, and a bag of essentials in your car or somewhere you can grab it so that you can make a rapid exit if things get threatening.  As you know, when addicts are under the influence, they can be threatening and unpredictable.  Your highest priority is to keep yourself safe!

I hope you'll also find a local meeting.  The Al-Anon program is very similar for those affected by alcoholism and drug addiction.  So Nar-Anon may be a great resource but Al-Anon is also good if Nar-Anon is not easily available.  And we hope you'll come back to this site too.  Take good care of yourself.

hey Southernmiss...I'm in TX too..I can't add to the already great answers you got here, but I cannot emphasize enough HE IS UNSAFE....HE IS DANGEROUS.....I would be contacting a domestic violence shelter councellor, also there are paralegals who can advise you at minimum cost what your rights are....yes, properties and other assets are community and the courts will , if you disolve this marriage, divy up the assets....unless he gets into rehab and into NA, this will, for sure, get worse....I have a drug addict brother...We dont' even know, now, if he's even alive...my sister died 8 days ago, and he has not "surfaced" from his street "home" Noone can find him...hes unsafe, too, when high on the speed drugs, like Meth....if he is doing illegal drugs, dealing,or stealing, maybe that will catch up with him and they will put him in jail and he will be FORCED to sober up, but still..no guarantees there....if this was me, I would be contacting a domestic abuse shelter and speaking with a councellor, they can direct you on legal help, a LOT of stuff they can help you with...there is help but you gotta reach out for it...chains on the doors is not gonna stop someone all high on drugs.....I would start stashing my valuables in a duffel bag, papers that are important and Stuff that is real important for me to start anew and hide those valuables somewhere safe....IF you encounter him, don't engage him, don't confront, if he is high?? get the hell out and into a DV shelter....this is only going to get worse as the drugs take over....my brother went from a mellow, funny, playful little guy to a maniac who deliberately thought he would have fun one night, driving his car, he saw a cop car....he deliberately ran into that car, tboned the cruiser...Thank God the cop was inside the 7-11 store where this happened....little bro has a real gift of BS...he actually convinced the law he had a seizure and "i dunno what happened" but yea, hes dangerous...and is getting worse from all reports i hear of him....hes been MIA now for 2 months maybe?? we don't know if he is still above ground...hes a street druggie who lives on the streets and soon as he gets up , he uses until he goes to sleep at night....so you are looking at a horrid road ahead if he doesn't get into hospital and help....its time for you to take ALL actions to take care of and protect you......really...I can't emphasize enough.....you really need to contact DV shelters and maybe go to a meeting and ask the old timers what they are doing/did re: their users or drinkrs.....