Discovering that your teen is taking drugs may leave you feeling helpless and unsure how to help him stop. It's imperative to proceed with caution while doing everything in your power to help your teen stop taking drugs. There are certain steps to follow that may help lead to a positive outcome for both you and your teen.
Instructions
1Be open with your teen about your concerns. Once you are ready to confront your teen about drug use, remain calm while being very firm that there is no escaping the fact that you are aware of the problem. A teen's first instinct may be to lie about the problem or place the blame on someone else, so it's important to immediately establish that both of you must be truthful with each other.
2 Do your best not to attack or threaten your teen. You are likely to be furious about your teen's drug use, but lashing out angrily may cause your teen to feel that you are out to get her and cause her to withdraw further from you. Stress that you are concerned about her behavior but you are there to help her stop doing drugs so she can lead a happy and healthy life.
3 Listen to your teen's explanations and feelings about his drug use. Try not to be judgmental, place blame or immediately criticize his initial reasons for using drugs. It's important to show your teen that he can turn to you about this or any other issues he might be having.
4 Avoid confronting your teen when you think she might be under the influence of drugs. It may be very difficult to keep calm if you suspect that your child has been using drugs and you are highly unlikely to have a productive conversation with her when she's in an altered state of mind.
5 Consult your family doctor or other health professionals experienced in dealing with drug addiction. Though you will be able to provide support and guidance for your teen, you will need the help of medical experts to treat your child's potential addiction. Your family doctor should also be able to diagnose his emotional health while addressing the possibility of any associated psychological conditions.
Remember that drug use is common and the fact that your teen may be taking drugs does not make you a failure as a parent. The best thing a parent can do is get help for his child as soon as possible.
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