Teen Substance Use: 21 Ideas to Consider When You are Concerned

Photo by Steven Abraham on Unsplash

Fifteen years ago, I faced a challenging parenting problem. I discovered my teen was dependent on drugs.

With that discovery came the knowledge that I didn’t know how to help. Like most parents, I had never had any training on dealing with a family member struggling with substance use.

Our journey to recovery as a family was a painful experience in my life. It was also a wake-up call and has changed my view of how substance use can impact families.

There are many things parents can do when trying to cope with a struggling child’s drug or alcohol use. We all do the best we can under complicated, difficult circumstances. But maybe some tips from someone who has been through it might help.

Here are 21 ideas parents could consider if they find their teen or young adult is struggling with substance use.

1. Assume your child’s drug use is not a teen rite of passage or that they will grow out of at some point. Don’t have the “boys will be boys” attitude. Instead, know that the sooner you intervene, the better. According to the Partnership to End Addiction, “90% of Americans who meet the clinical criteria for addiction started using substances before the age of 18.”
2. Keep all prescription medications in a place where your…