Teenage Drug Abuse

Is Your Own Teen Involved?

You know your child best.

You will probably be able to tell if you are looking at normal behavior or the result of teenage drug abuse.

You will know it's time to do something. So what to do?

If You THINK Your Teenager Might Be Taking Drugs

• Don’t go in with all guns blazing. You are concerned and frightened for your teenager, but they will see you as controlling, nagging and unable to understand them.
• Calm down and think about what is happening in their lives to push them in this direction. Is it a one off thing or do you have evidence that it is ongoing and dangerous?
• Talk to your teenager. Tell them that you are concerned about their behavior and that you think they are using drugs.
• Talk to them about your values, your concerns for their health and about what you will allow to go on in your home.

If You KNOW Your Teenager is Taking Drugs

• You may be left in now doubt that your teenager is taking drugs by having them come home under the influence. Keep your anger or fear in check. Make sure they are not in any medical danger then ignore them until they have recovered.
• Ask them what happened. Encourage them to speak. Try to remain calm.

• Remember that while their behavior may have frightened or disgusted you, they are still the teen you love and you need to show them that.
• As above, talk to them about your values, your concerns for their health and about what you will allow to go on in your home.
• Older teenagers make their own life choices. There is very little you can do to change or control this. One thing you can do is make rules about what goes on in your own home. If it’s an illegal drug then zero tolerance is your right.
• Be careful about demanding your teen give up the drugs or get out. Seek help from other sources before you go this far. What may be a scary phase in your child’s life may be made much worse if they are pushed into really risky circumstances. However, sometimes it’s the only choice.
• Ask your teenager what drugs they are on and how they are taking them. Talk about what your teenager gets from taking them. Talk about the possible side effects and dangers. Talk about how it affects their relationships, school, and their future.
• Punishing your teen for taking drugs may not have any influence in stopping them.
• If your teenager is arrested for drug use. Be supportive but let them feel the full responsibility for their choices. They will need to pay any charges themselves, keep track of appointments and court appearances, etc.
• If you find your teenager unconscious immediately call your local ambulance.

How To Talk To Your Teenager About Drugs

• Do some homework first. We’re just giving you the guidelines here. See Contact Numbers and Addresses below for specific drug information. You need to go deeper and learn about the most common drugs and what they do, what their side effects are.
• Don’t spy on your teenager. Talk to them. Let them know you trust them. Even if you did search their room and found drugs you don’t know the story behind them. Maybe your teen took then away from a friend who was getting out of control for their own safety?
• Choose a time to talk about drug abuse among teenagers that is fairly neutral and calm. Walking the dog together or driving to an activity.
• Bring up the subject based on something factual. For example, “I’ve noticed you’ve been keeping to yourself a lot lately. Coach says you’ve missed practice a few times. How are you feeling about that?” You may want to wring their neck but if they can see there are no punishments threatened you are more likely to get some information.
• Talk about drug abuse among teenagers in a general way to give your teen the chance to tell their own stories or voice their own opinions and beliefs. Start off with something like “I was talking to your Aunty Joan about some of her students. She says they are smoking pot at recess and she’s so worried about them. What do you think about it?” Don’t be judgmental or critical, just concerned, this is your chance to show your teen you can talk about these topics in an open and friendly way.

You'll find more tips and advice on talking to teens here…

Useful Contacts for Help

Both you and your teen will benefit from help from an experienced and objective third party.

Read more here...

Why Do Teenagers Take Drugs?

You can help them make better choices for themselves if you know what you are up against.

Read more here...

Teenagers Drinking Alcohol

If you've been reading the newspaper lately, you'll have seen that teenage binge drinking is becoming a very real problem.

Everyone enjoys a social drink or a cooling beer on a hot day. Just be aware that alcohol and teenagers is a dangerous mix.

Read more here...

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