My drinking, prodigal son: the wheels start turning. See (1983) Mental Health Act.

Hello again. It's been a long struggle re. my drunken, mentally ill son, and it is not over. See my previous postings over last 4 days for history of his latest case of binge drinking and mental disturbance...

When I wrote yesterday, I thought our son Tom was responding to the treatment of tranquillisers he had received from our doctor/GP. But his alcoholism decided it otherwise. After two prescribed doses given by me, fairly close together, of 2 x 20mg librium type pills, he seemed quiter, but then stealthily broke the door of our locked medicine cabinet and stole the bottle of capsules. He found a bit more alcohol in our garage (his, he had hidden earlier) and walked out of the house. That was 8 pm. We called the police and ambulance services on 999. He was arraested in the nearby local street, and had taken an extra 8 pills, so had a slight overdose of tranqs., mixed with the remains of alcohol he had taken. He was put in an ambulance, but ran off - just got off the vehicle and ran away. Then he went off into the night and came back to our house at midnight, severely unwell, and drunk too. probably the mix of chemicals in his body. We called the services again and he was taken to the hospital by ambulance. There he was left to dry out, and discharged at 4 am. My husband was called and brought him back here; then we got a bit of sleep, and Tom rested or whatever...

First thing this morning the cycle recommenced. He got up before I wasout ofb ed. I heard him go outof the front door; I followed him out intot he road and saw him disappear off into the distance. At 5 pm we were rung again by the police - he was still listed as missing, and had been found, very drunk again. And then we was readmitted to the local hospital - same old pattern. We rang them and have asked to speak to the consultant doctor on his case. He will ring back in about 30 minutes. We have discussed him on phone with our GP, who saw him yesterday - in his view Tom was seriously disturbed and was worthy of being "sectioned" under the Mental Health Act, 1983 - ie put into a secure ward. The police have now said he may need a "place of safety" order. At last there is some recognition that he is continuing to harm himself, and it ig getting out of hand.

Yesterday he showed some violence - he smashed the glass of our medicine cabinet, and was somewhat threatening when Dave (my husband) tried to stop him leaving. Dave says he is now truly frightened that Tom may attack us - though he hardly has so far. But 5 weeks ago he knocked down our wooden, high back fence and gate, trying to get out early in a similar way, on his previous binge. That one lasted 9 says; he was serious ill at the end, and did then respond to a detox programme. But he has not stayed "clean" for more than 5 weeks.

Our GP did give us some good advice this morning - we can keep the appointment given to Tom at the Alcohol clinic in the mental health hospital, and ask for him to be sectioned. This can be done by 2 psychiatrists without Tom being there in fact, which I had not realised. We can provide evidence, and the GP can back this up, by how Tom was at his interview yesterday. There is also the record of his going off, being on the street, ans apprehended - then going home and drinking agin, going off, etc. This cannot go on. It is wearing us both down, I was feeling physically ill last night and this morning; I had used up so much emotional energy yesterday - on the phone, talking, worrying - and my husband has become fearfu;of the vuolence Tom may use to us. Also I hav a nasty upper chest infection now.

A woman friend of mine, J., says, from her experience and reading, that men with Tom's sexual tastes (masochism) may turn and become violent to others - especially women. It is almost as if Tom is now a 'DSPD' - someone with a dangerous and severe personality disorder. I want him to get treatment soon, before he ends up arrested for a violent attack,a nd in a secure hosital (even one for the criminally insane). Going to A.A. meetings is no longer enough. the GP says he should be treated as an inpatient - and is no longer suitable for treatment in the community. My knowledge of criminology is helping me to understand what is needed in Tom's case - maybe action under the Mental Health Act (1983) to detain him.

So we must wait until Friday for something to begin to happen. We must ride out the next 36 hours or so. Dave must conquer his fear - we may have to have Tom back here for a few hours in the night or tomorrow. Because I am a criminologist who teaches on mental disorder and crime, among other things, I know some of the score on the Mental Health Act. There are proposed changes in the law that would make it more likely for someone like Tom to be detained. Now (at present) the Act favours the patient's civil liberties. This is fair enough, but if someone is quite dangerous or potentially so, they are better off in a secure place - for all concerned. Once he's on a secure ward, he could be made to do a detox, and if necesary "go cold turkey" if the pills do not work.

That is all again - must ring off now and wait for an advice call from the hospital doctor. I hope for better news by Friday. May God bless Tom and bring him some relief - and give us more strength to cope with this nightmare.

Love and peace, Tigey