Tulsa Family Tells Dr. Phil Of Son's Prescription Drug Abuse

I cannot understand why anyone would want to make a spectacle of themselves, much less their kid, on national TV airing their dirty laundry. Now the local news (thanks KOTV) is broadcasting something that should be contained within the family. WOW. These parents are idiots.

And the OBN says more than 12 million painkillers prescribed this year; and people are worried about pot smokers...

Uh, so other parents who's kids are going through the same thing can learn some warning signs and learn what things this family is doing to handle the situation. So they can head their kids off before it gets as bad as got with this kid. Seriously, some parents are clueless about this stuff and can learn from this.

Family ... if you do actually read these, please know that there are people out here who are praying for you and praying for your son, Michael. Thank you for loving your son enough to not care what others thought and to reach out for whatever or whomever it took to save your son. As a parent, I would have done the same. Ignoring it NEVER makes it go away. We might save face ... but at the cost of our child's life? I don't think so. Great job parents!

dingalanglinglong wrote:

I cannot understand why anyone would want to make a spectacle of themselves, much less their kid, on national TV airing their dirty laundry. Now the local news (thanks KOTV) is broadcasting something that should be contained within the family. WOW. These parents are idiots.
And the OBN says more than 12 million painkillers prescribed this year; and people are worried about pot smokers...

I will call them parents who will go to great lenghts to save their child's life. I would do the same. Its called LOVE. Too many children will are tossed to the roadside because the parents have their own lives and don't want to be bothered, saying, "They made their choices, and they must pay for it." Going to the Dr. Phil show may very well save their own child, may save another in the process. It could also be a wake up call for other parents who are dealing with the same issues.

My first thoughts when reading this article are shameful, " ah another well off white kid, cry me a freakin river".
My second thoughts went immediately to what I know of addiction, My father an alcoholic, my baby brother one of many dead due to drug overdose.
My sister, beat to death by her husband out of his mind on drug and alcohol. My own husband addicted to prescription codeine after 7 back surgeries.
My mother in law, addicted to gambling and prescription pills. Shameful. I applaud this family for taking a stand to assist in the education of millions who may see the show.
Addiction is pure evil that possess those you love the most. Today I will right the word LOVE on my arm, and seek pray, beg, and borrow to help those I love who suffer from addiction.

A parents job is never done, Good job parents for careing enough and LOVE for this child to get him help. I would have done the same thing

Dr. Phil is a shady character at best. If you wanted help there are more then enough psychologists who are more qualified and better trained to handle your problems then this two-bit loser. The best of luck to your family.

My heart goes out to these parents. I am having the exact problem with my own son only my son is actually in worse shape than this kid. I have had the same thoughts as them, well if I do this or if I do that maybe it will work this time. He is now endangering not only his own life but other peoples lives to. I've had him in treatment and therapy. He recently got out of the boys home, nothing has done any good. I fear for his life EVERY single day. He is now 18 and I no longer have any control at all.

VLF wrote:

My heart goes out to these parents. I am having the exact problem with my own son only my son is actually in worse shape than this kid. I have had the same thoughts as them, well if I do this or if I do that maybe it will work this time. He is now endangering not only his own life but other peoples lives to. I've had him in treatment and therapy. He recently got out of the boys home, nothing has done any good. I fear for his life EVERY single day. He is now 18 and I no longer have any control at all.

Bless your heart. That must be heart wrenching. I would suggest going to Al-Anon, it might help give you some peace of mind during this difficult time.

I will be praying for strength for this family. I also applaud them for doing anything it takes to get their son healthy. There might be other people locally this family could have reached out to but how many of those would offer free treatment to this family. There not is not only a high price emotionally for this family but a very high $$$$$$ for treatment. God bless your family.

The school did some testing on my daughter and going by their findings she's got ADHD, suggested I take her to a doctor and get her on meds. I told them not no, but he ll no! I am not going down that road, and she's not ADHD, she's just lazy sometimes and it's easier to get distracted than it is to focus on the task at hand. I swear that's all it is with these kids, not some "condition". And people wonder why our kids are addicted to prescription drugs.

You got stress, here's a pill.

You got anxiety, here's a pill.

You get headaches, here's a pill.

You can't concentrate, here's a pill.

Whatever happened to advil/tylenol and dealing with your problems instead of taking "happy pills" and pretending things are fine?

I truly hope this family has found the help they needed. Sometimes, when one is to far gone into their addiction, drastic measures are needed to snap them out of it. Maybe a trip to Dr. Phil made this kid wake up out if his haze. Parents need to know what to look for, and most parents don't know those ADD and ADHD drugs are addictive. All they know is their kid is now sedate. Nevermind they're selling their script to schoolmates.....parent your damn kids people! Funny how when we were growing up, you got out of line and you got smacked, now you get into trouble for raising your hand to your child, but legally getting them addicted to drugs is fine....

First my heart goes out to the Weatherford’s family and especially Michael you are fighting a very strong demon that you will have to deal with the rest of your life and at such a young age.
We had no trouble with our son all through high school and his first year of college. In the fall of 2001 he went to a large university in state. He pledged a fraternity that fall, in the spring I told my husband I thought our son had a drinking problem; not realizing some of his frat brothers had introduced him to several drugs. Of course dad thinks he is just having fun. On March 1, 2006 we received a call from our sons friend saying he is threatening suicide and that he had heard a shot. When we got there two other friends had managed to get in and he was alive and doing better. We had spent the day with him feeling things would be OK. I was back one week later and had to involve the police. He was taken to the local hospital where his alcohol level was double the legal limit and he had cocaine in his system. He was pulled out of school and was admitted to Laureate on March 9, 2006. Since this we have been through three additional threats of suicide with one being he taking a 38 and pulling the hammer back on it in his truck, doors locked and I couldn’t get in. I told him how much I loved him and how much I needed him. Walked in the house waiting for the shot. He walked in about 15 minutes later threw the bullets on the ottoman along with the gun. He was ready to go to Laureate, but wouldn’t because his insurance had not taken effect. We have since had e DUI’s and 2 possessions of pot. Every time we have backed our son and put him through treatment and done every thing the court has order. This time though his father has realize that he did have a serious addiction to alcohol. We have gone through every step with him group therapy, individual therapy, family night and his psychiatrist. For the first time since 2002 I have my son back. He has made one slip with pot due to being laid off his job and not knowing how he would pay for his very expensive meds that he is on and didn’t want to be dependent on his parents again. He has made great strides and the one thing we learned in family group was the old saying “They won’t get help until they hit rock bottom” it’s not true!!!!! If you love your child you do everything you can to get them better and you keep telling them you love them and you give them all the support in the world. They will slip and when they due you stay strong and get them back on track.
Mr. & Mrs. Weatherford stay strong and keep pushing. You can tell how much you love him. If Dr. Phil was something you felt might help go for it and listen to your heart but also your mind.
As for “dingalanglinglon g” you must have never gone threw this before. Until you walk in all of us parents that have keep your mouth shut!!!!!

After he gets out of rehab he needs to get a job
and pay back my parents for stealing a $3000.00
rug, a $10,000 tennis bracelet a vase that had hidden in it rare coins, a wedding ring that my
wore when she traveled, a $200 gift certificate
to Home Depot I bought for my parents for Christmas, etc. All this occured when my family
was in Atlanta Georgia for my niece Victoria Hiel's funeral. I took the receipt for the Home Depot card to Home Depot and their cameras show him
using the card. I called the Tulsa Police Department and reported it to detectives and they did nothing. This crime occured over Christmas last year.

Michael, Our family forgives you, do not give up on
your treatment. The materialistic things we lost can be replaced but your life and freedom cannot.

God intervened to help you not Dr. Phill

Parents, if your child is taking prescripton drugs (like both of mine are), You are responsible for locking them up, dispensing the proper dose and ensuring that it is not your kiddo passing these drugs off. Teens are not adults, manage your medicine cabinet as if the contents were lethal - they are!!!!!

Some doctors can now treat painkiller and heroin addiction in the privacy of their office with a monthly prescription of buprenorphine (Suboxone/Subutex). This suppresses the cravings and withdrawal so patients can do the other important things needed to recover.

TreatmentMatch.org is a free service from the non-profit organization - National Alliance of Advocates for Buprenorphine Treatment (NAABT.org ) it is a confidential way to find doctors certified to treat opioid addiction in their office.



Bupe is abuse resistant and has a ceiling to its effects making accidental fatal overdoses unlikely. It also blocks other opioids for days, and is not euphoric to people tolerant to opioids. It has enough opioid effect to stop cravings and withdrawal allowing the patient and their family to make the necessary changes that will translate to sustained addiction remission.



Learn more about buprenorphine at www.naabt.org or talk with patients who have used it at www.AddictionSurvivors.org

I know the problem oh too well. Both of my sons are addictes to the "Monster" Opiates. I suggest to mothers to try Nar Anon, they are like Al Anon, but for drug addicts. My youngest had five surgeries between the age 16 and 19 and was on Loratabs (opiates) for all of them, including liquid loratab when he broke his jaw. between the surgeries from football, deviated septum, etc. we found out he was a cutter. My son does not know how to release his emotions and pins them up. All of the emotional pain he feels, he holds in. He started cutting to release pain when he was 14. I took him to Lauriette where he received help. He still has a problem releasing pain (talking about it, crying,etc. he does not do these things) He has a father who told him to "loose his number" when he was 16. He has been through a lot. I believe that he found out that opiates numb that pain and instead of cutting, he chose to take the drug. His addiction has gotten him into a lot of trouble and he has lost heverything he had going in his life. He had a terrific job, excellant credit, got a new truck (without a co-signer) LOST IT ALL. Now he is facing prison time for a crime he didn't do but because of his addiction is having the finger pointed at him. Our lives have been a living hell for a very long time. Naranon helps the loved ones of an addict. Helps releave the guilt the anger the confusion and helps you to understand the disease. It is a disease and these addicts are victims. The laws need to change when it comes to handing out pain killers. My heart goes out to each and every one of you with this problem in your life. It is terrible. God Bless Our Children.

NancyB wrote:

Some doctors can now treat painkiller and heroin addiction in the privacy of their office with a monthly prescription of buprenorphine (Suboxone/Subutex). This suppresses the cravings and withdrawal so patients can do the other important things needed to recover.
TreatmentMatch.org is a free service from the non-profit organization - National Alliance of Advocates for Buprenorphine Treatment (NAABT.org ) it is a confidential way to find doctors certified to treat opioid addiction in their office.


Bupe is abuse resistant and has a ceiling to its effects making accidental fatal overdoses unlikely. It also blocks other opioids for days, and is not euphoric to people tolerant to opioids. It has enough opioid effect to stop cravings and withdrawal allowing the patient and their family to make the necessary changes that will translate to sustained addiction remission.


Learn more about buprenorphine at www.naabt.org or talk with patients who have used it at www.AddictionSurvivors.org

I would be skeptical of another pill to replace a pill addiction. I think recovery takes a lot of action and attitude adjustment.

By-the-way, the son I was talking about is barely 21 years old.

dingalanglinglong wrote:

I cannot understand why anyone would want to make a spectacle of themselves, much less their kid, on national TV airing their dirty laundry. Now the local news (thanks KOTV) is broadcasting something that should be contained within the family. WOW. These parents are idiots.
And the OBN says more than 12 million painkillers prescribed this year; and people are worried about pot smokers...

How are people to know and teach others to avoid this on going problem? These people are "BRAVE" enough to make a "SPECTACLE" out of them self to aid or help others. Your clueless. What can you do and how are you helping?

Another middle class white boy goes to rehab. I wish all children of all races and classes got the same love and support this kid has received. Dr. Phil is not my favorite media whore talk show host but its a start. I hope this kid succeeds. I also hope parents and schools open their eyes to a growing problem. What happen to the days of the school nurse administering medication during school hours? Do teens just walk around with bottle of pills now?