Interesting development (Addictions)

[Questioner]

has a larger than typical empty feeling which they try to fill with drug use.

I think that's exactly this kid's situation.

We didn't get a conversation with the landlady yesterday. We might see her today. The other housemates agree that we need to ask the kid's family to get him out of the house. It's not appropriate to ask paying tenants to be ready to talk down someone who self-medicates enough to chat with demons, who wonders if using guns is a good way to gain respect, who abandons pit bulls, etc. Even if he doesn't do anything else destructive, there could also be a time that he's alone at the house, and simply walks out with the door left wide open and the water running. He clearly needs help that is inappropriate to demand or expect of tenants. I think the landlady might not have realized just how bad off her nephew really is. She will soon.

One of the other roommates is friends with a young family that may well be happy to take the dogs. I never knew before that pit bull puppies are such cute little bags of wrinkles. I think the dogs will be fine.

We can offer to suggest some ideas about what's next for the kid. But it's not up to us if those options are welcomed or used. The kid's 18, so unless his family seeks legal guardianship (which they'd probably win, or might already have), it's his choice.

He recently got a six-figure inheritance, so money is not going to be an issue for the kid's next move. His recent episodes have wasted more than enough money for the health care I need and the business I want to start. No shortage of funds there.

Monica, since the kid was kicked out of high school and apparently has some brain damage, I don't know what his reading level is like. I don't know if he'd have any interest in reading a book. I'm reluctant to recommend a book I haven't read, to someone who doesn't show an ability to assess the value of information. From the reviews, I think the author did more self-destructive things than the kid has ever got into. Reading the book might inspire him to try to match that level of excess! I'm sure that you'd offer him the book, but I don't think I will.

I agree with Peregrinus that the issue isn't that he doesn't have options...He must choose to be healed, and then he will have options manifest.

Absolutely. His troubles bother him enough that he sometimes really wants to get better. I don't know whether or not this will rise to the level of the primary need in his life. I hope for his sake it does. But as you keep reminding me (and thank you for the reminder!), that's not up to me.