Parents and teenage addicts
Discovering that a teen is addicted to drugs or alcohol can generate fear, confusion, and anger in parents. One of the greatest challenges that parents in this predicament struggle with – at least initially – is coming to terms with the scale of their teen’s addiction. After all, isn’t it common knowledge that teenagers and young adults will experiment from time to time? It’s all a part of growing up, right?
Well, it may be true that teens who smoke marijuana on occasion, or accept a can of beer at a party, don’t develop an addiction that will eventually come to dominate their lives. However, how can parents recognize when their teen has gone beyond the experimental phase and established an addiction?
Many parents try to reason that their teenagers are just “being kids” and that they are being offered irresistible temptations at every turn. But, many parents also find that after living in denial for a while, their struggling teen is soon fighting a fierce addiction. Generally, what starts as a harmless “one-time” thing can turn into serious addiction — especially for teenagers who have easy access to their drugs of choice. Most parents try to handle drug abuse problems on their own. They may confiscate items, ban certain friendships, etc. However, many parents eventually find that professional help is most often needed once their teenager becomes addicted.
Parents need to confront their teen about the severity of the problem and remain calm when doing so. It’s also important to confront the teenager when everyone is completely sober. If parents explain their concerns and make it clear that their concern comes from a place of love, it can help the teen feel safe and supported.
Most importantly, parents should not wait until they feel powerless to rescue their child from the clutches of addiction; they shouldn’t wait until their teenager’s life is on the line – seek help early on.