“How can I convince my son to stop taking drugs?”
My 18 year old son is into drugs and I am finding it hard to convince him to quit the drugs and get on a straighter path. What should I do, before it's too late?
2 Answers
Unfortunately, there isn't a magic sentence that works. I wish there was. Each person has to come to the realization that what they're doing is wrong in their own way. Having said that, he is 18 which means if you push him, he will become oppositional. You're going to have to walk a fine line. Teenagers think that nothing bad is going to happen to them. As a mother, I know I would be tempted to yell, scream, jump up and down, cry....anything to get his attention. Here's the thing though. If you yell, he will shut down and you won't get anywhere. He isn't going to understand that what sounds like anger is really fear and frustration. Your best bet is to set up an intervention with a professional. He or she will be able to guide you through it so emotions don't run too high. Go online and look up drug interventions near you. Do not attempt to do an intervention on your own or with family and friends. You can make it worse. Good luck!
Finding that your young adult child is using drugs is truly heartbreaking. As you know, abusing many kinds of drugs can kill him or cause serious illness or put him in prison. But you have no direct control over his use and probably can't "convince him" to do anything. Often, the more you nag him, the more he uses.
First question is, are you part of the problem? Do you give him money that he can use to buy drugs? Do you give him free rent and overlook transgressions like stealing family possessions? Do you rescue him from the consequences of his actions? That's almost always unwise. If he's arrested, do you bail him out? In short, are you good at setting limits?
Second, do you have insurance that covers rehab? If so, CAREFULLY research drug rehab facilities and find one that accepts your insurance and has a good reputation. Be really picky because the rehab business has attracted more than its share of scammers. Once you find a place, consider giving your son an ultimatum: get help or get out. Tell him, "If you're going to kill yourself with drugs, I'm not going to let you do it under my roof."
Third, and probably most important, get help for yourself. Therapy with a good psychotherapist can be incredibly helpful. You may find Al Anon meetings in your community that can help. Again, BE PICKY and keep looking until you find honest to goodness support.
First question is, are you part of the problem? Do you give him money that he can use to buy drugs? Do you give him free rent and overlook transgressions like stealing family possessions? Do you rescue him from the consequences of his actions? That's almost always unwise. If he's arrested, do you bail him out? In short, are you good at setting limits?
Second, do you have insurance that covers rehab? If so, CAREFULLY research drug rehab facilities and find one that accepts your insurance and has a good reputation. Be really picky because the rehab business has attracted more than its share of scammers. Once you find a place, consider giving your son an ultimatum: get help or get out. Tell him, "If you're going to kill yourself with drugs, I'm not going to let you do it under my roof."
Third, and probably most important, get help for yourself. Therapy with a good psychotherapist can be incredibly helpful. You may find Al Anon meetings in your community that can help. Again, BE PICKY and keep looking until you find honest to goodness support.
