• Home
  • Brooke Burke
  • Must Have
  • Recalls
  • Contributors
  • Contests & Twitter Parties
  • Become An Insider
  • ModernMom Store

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • Ask Dr. Psych Mom
  • Cooking
  • Around The House
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
  • Career
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Hot Topics
You are here: Home / Parenting / Help for Parents Who Discover Teen Drug Use

Help for Parents Who Discover Teen Drug Use

January 5, 2011 by ds_65371 Leave a Comment

Whether you learn that your teen is experimenting with drugs or that he is already addicted to them, it is never a happy discovery. Your reaction could play an important part in determining how effective your efforts are to get your teen off drugs. Ensure that you don’t do more harm than good when you approach your child about his drug use.

Getting Help

Drug use is a serious issue with potentially lifelong consequences. Unless you are specifically trained in dealing with juvenile drug use, you likely don’t have the necessary tools to tackle your teen’s issues alone. Instead of trying to keep your kid’s struggle a secret, speak to his doctor about ways in which you can help your teen. With the guidance of this medical professional, you can decrease the likelihood that you make potentially serious missteps when dealing with your teen’s drug use.

Confronting the Problem

The way in which you confront your teen about her drug use is important. Upon learning that you have discovered his secret, your teen is likely to become adversarial. Don’t let the confrontation turn into an argument. Instead, focus upon the fact that you are worried about her. By expressing concern for your teen’s well-being, instead of blaming her for developing a drug habit, you can decrease the likelihood that she sees you as an outsider who doesn’t understand and increase the likelihood that she feels like you are there to help.

Relationship Building

If your relationship with your teen is not what it once was, it is likely time to rebuild. One of the best things a parent can do to help her drug-addicted teen is to be there. This means eating dinner with your teen regularly, talking with him about his day and playing an active part in his life. Also, share information about yourself to show him that this relationship building is a two-way street, not just a way for you to gain access to his life.

Focus on the Fix

As you tackle your child’s drug demons, avoid glancing in the rear view mirror and focusing on how she got into drugs in the first place. If you attempt to grill your child on what drove her to drug usage, you will likely alienate her and make her feel unwanted. Instead, dedicate yourself to solving the problem and developing a plan with your teen and her doctor to combat and overcome the drug use. Let the past stay in the past, and move forward into a drug-free future.

Monitoring

If you are successful in getting your teen off drugs, your job still isn’t done. Teens who have used drugs in the past are likely to relapse. Don’t abandon your relationship-building efforts and withdraw from your teen’s life just because his bout with drug use is over. Instead, remain an active participant in his life to ensure that you are immediately aware of any relapse.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Parenting

About ds_65371

Erin Schreiner is a freelance writer and teacher who holds a bachelor's degree from Bowling Green State University. She has been actively freelancing since 2008. Schreiner previously worked for a London-based freelance firm. Her work appears on eHow, Trails.com and RedEnvelope. She currently teaches writing to middle school students in Ohio and works on her writing craft regularly.

Contest & Twitter Parties

I Kill Giants $100 Visa Gift Card Giveaway

Search

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ModernMom Boutique ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Why Coconut Oil Is So Good For Pregnant & Nursing Mothers

Why Coconut Oil Is So Good For Pregnant & Nursing Mothers

“Coconut oil contains large amounts of lauric acid, a …[Read More...]

ModernMom TV

What Happens When You Mix Lemon Juice With Baking Soda?

What Happens When You Mix Lemon Juice With Baking Soda?

Baking soda is basic, and lemon juice is acidic. When you …[Read More...]

Cravings & the Sex of the Baby

Cravings & the Sex of the Baby

Long before ultrasounds were common, moms wanted to know …[Read More...]

Pregnancy and Sinus Pain

Pregnancy and Sinus Pain

According to Lisa Rodriguez, R.N., contributing writer for …[Read More...]

10 Foods to Improve Sperm Count and Quality

10 Foods to Improve Sperm Count and Quality

Getting pregnant is not always as easy as we think it should …[Read More...]

Strep Throat Symptoms in Babies

Strep Throat Symptoms in Babies

Children who are past the toddler stage may be perfectly …[Read More...]

How Early to Take a Pregnancy Test

How Early to Take a Pregnancy Test

If you are trying to become pregnant or suspect you might …[Read More...]

Cold Sore and Fever Blister Remedies

Cold Sore and Fever Blister Remedies

Though there are a few factors that doctors will use to …[Read More...]

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Copyright © 2018 · Mom, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc. The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.