No one wants to think of their child as abusing drugs or alcohol, but statistics show that it remains a serious issue facing many Texas and Oklahoma families today, up to 1/3 of families with teens in certain age groups. For parents in those families, discovering that one of your children is abusing drugs, whether it is illegal or a prescription drug, how you react is just as important as knowing where to go for help.
Prevention is the best way of protecting your children from drug abuse, of course. Developing and maintaining a good relationship with clear communication and being aware of your teen's activities and friends is a big help for lowering risks for substance abuse and experimentation.
If the worst does happen and you discover your teen is using drugs, the most important thing to do is not panic! Some drugs by themselves aren't necessarily serious but can be gateways to more serious substances. Tobacco, marijuana, and alcohol are usually put in this category. Experimentation is also a lot different than abuse. If you are sure your child is only trying new experiences and isn't going to go on to develop a habit, then sometimes just a strong statement of your stance on substance use could be enough to nip the problem in the bud and follow up with a firm but minor disciplinary action to drive the message home while keeping an eye out for backsliding. Overreacting is as bad as denying the possibility there might even be a problem, so be careful about just what tone is taken with this sort of action. Methamphetamine, cocaine, opiates, or other known substances with a high rate of addiction require stronger intervention with the help of a professional drug abuse counselor.
Unfortunately, by the time parents discover substance abuse in their teen, it's been going on for several years. Before flying off the handle, take a step back and examine how they've been doing in school, both socially and academically, patterns in friendship and family interactions, levels of rebelliousness, and the type and seriousness of seeking risks. If you suspect your teen is deep in substance abuse or is also struggling with emotional, behavioral, and school related problems, you should immediately seek the help of a behavioral health or drug abuse counselor near your Oklahoma or Texas home to find out what the best course of action for you and your teen will be.
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