My Daughter Has Drug Induced Schizophrenic. She's 40, Started Using Drugs Since She Was 19. She's Been In And Out Of Treatments Refuses Meds

A MySchizophreniaTeam Visitor asked a question 💭

I'm now 80, she lives with me and she's using because I can see from her actions and her face. I'm afraid to die knowing that no one will take care of het when I'm gone. I have a house that she won't be homeless. I don't get upset anymore. I can have her confined to a locked down facility as her conservator. What else can I do. I want to spend the last few years with her. I know I'm enabler. I just couldn't see her homeless it breaks my heart.

December 13, 2025
MySchizophreniaTeam2

What can you do to help your daughter with drug-induced schizophrenia who refuses treatment while planning for her future care?

Your love and concern for your daughter are clear, and you're facing an incredibly difficult situation. You're not alone in this struggle.

Since you're already her conservator, you have legal Show Full Answer

What can you do to help your daughter with drug-induced schizophrenia who refuses treatment while planning for her future care?

Your love and concern for your daughter are clear, and you're facing an incredibly difficult situation. You're not alone in this struggle.

Since you're already her conservator, you have legal authority to make medical and care decisions for her. This is an important tool, though using it for involuntary commitment is understandably a hard choice.

Here are some options to consider:

* Talk with a mental health professional or legal expert about your conservatorship options and what involuntary treatment might look like
* Explore integrated dual-diagnosis rehabilitation programs that treat both substance use and schizophrenia together
* Look into assertive community treatment programs, where a team of medical professionals can provide in-home care
* Consider coordinated specialty care programs if available in your area
* Create or update a psychiatric advance directive that outlines her treatment preferences for when you're no longer able to advocate for her

For planning ahead, you might also:

* Connect with social workers who can help arrange long-term care plans
* Research community-based housing programs for people with schizophrenia
* Explore setting up a special needs trust to protect the house and provide for her care after you're gone Taking care of yourself matters too. Caregiving at 80 is exhausting, and your well-being affects your ability to support her.

Consider joining a caregiver support group where you can connect with others who understand. Organizations like NAMI offer support groups and education programs specifically for families dealing with schizophrenia.

You're doing your best in an impossibly hard situation. Providing housing doesn't make you an enabler—it shows you care about her safety. The key is finding the right balance of support and boundaries, with professional help guiding the way.

December 13, 2025
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