My husband is addicted to sleep. He feels that he needs to be nearly unconscious every night and resorts to prescription sleeping pills, over the counter drugs and alcohol to get there. He is 75, a diabetic, and has had a quad by-pass. He is showing signs of dementia, (get's lost or forgets where he was going, get's dates confused, loses his insulin, syringes, hearing aids, doesn't remember trips he's been on or purchases made,) but it's hard to know if his symptoms are caused by Alzheimer's or the substance abuse or both. He is paranoid about being persecuted by others, collects guns and ammo and put motion detectors and cameras around our house. He applied for and got a firearms carry permit in Florida several years ago. He was arrested two years ago for making threatening gestures with a hand gun while driving and warned against carrying a pistol openly a few months ago at our neighborhood park. Recently when I was trying to help him with something he got really frustrated with me. He had a gun on the table beside him and commented to me that "if I haven't shot you by now, I guess I never will." He can be completely disoriented in the morning, but can answer all the right questions during doctor's visits, which he schedules for late afternoon when most of the drugs have worn off. He's had several serious auto accidents and often falls during the night if he gets up. He's been to the ER so many times I've lost count, but refuses to stay after being stabilized and signs himself out against doctors orders. I've been advised to have him Baker Acted, which I have done, but, once again, as soon as the drugs and alcohol are out of his system, he is coherent enough to get himself released. Does he have to kill himself or somebody else before anyone takes the problem seriously enough to get him into rehab?
Addiction to alcohol and pills, paranoia, and guns laying around the house?? It's only a matter of time before a tragedy occurs.
I'm scared for you.