Teen Drug Addiction Help

Teen drug abuse and drug addiction gets to a point it must be addressed.  A teen drug intervention can be a very successful way of addressing drug use, drug treatment options, and show support of drug rehab or drug recovery.  Keep reading for info on teen drug interventions.  

One of the scariest issues that most parents have to face is related to realizing that your teen is using drugs. In such cases, it may be time for a teen drug intervention. An intervention is when you take action to bring your concerns to your teenager, and talk about a desired outcome - specifically ways that your teen can stop using drugs. You need to talk to your teenager about his or her problem, and work on ways that he or she can get help. Here are some steps that you can take to provide a teen drug intervention:

1. Talk to your partner

Your first step is to talk to your partner about your concerns that your teen is using drugs. It is important to talk about attitudes towards substance abuse, especially drugs. You need to figure out how you can present a united front, and decide on consequences and actions for help ahead of time. You need to commit to offering a united front, even if you don’t agree, and you need to decide on the position you will take and the actions you will suggest to your teen.

2. Gather evidence

Round up evidence that your teenager is using drugs. Look for clues about drug use, as well as paraphernalia. There is a good chance your teenager will deny that the items are his or hers. If that is the case, you still need to discuss drugs, their dangers, and set forth consequences associated with doing drugs. You should also point out that you don’t care whose drug items you found; it is still unacceptable, and your teen should be avoiding situation where drugs are in use.

3. Watch for the hypocrite play

As you arrange your teen drug intervention, you will likely be called a hypocrite, especially if you have done drugs. Think about what you will say. You should talk about how you wish you hadn’t used drugs, and how difficult it is to overcome. You should then keep the issue focused on the illegality of your child’s actions, and how you don’t your teen making the same mistakes. Do not spend a great deal of time justifying your past actions. Simply make it clear that you made mistakes, and that you know better, and that you do not want your teen going through the same issues.

4. Try to remain calm

It is likely that your teenager will show anger and denial, and maybe even try to emotionally escalate the situation so that you begin to lose control. Do your best to come from a place of love, and remain calm. Let your child yell and get out what he or she has to say, listening calmly. When she or he is done, reiterate your concern, and your position that drug use is not acceptable, and that you will work together to help your teenager overcome her or his drug use.

5. Come up with expected outcomes and consequences

Part of the teen drug intervention is to present an expected outcome. Hopefully, the outcome is to help your teenager stop using drugs. Set up rules related to drug use, and rules related to going to counseling or treatment, as you decide is best to help your teen overcome the drug addiction. Set forth consequences for failure to comply so that your teenager is aware of your expectations. Put together a plan of action that everyone in the family can support as you all pull together to help your teenager overcome his or her substance abuse. Encourage your teen to act as a member of the family and get help for the substance abuse problem.

6. Reiterate your support for your teenager

It is vital that you remind your child during the teen drug intervention that you love him or her and that you are willing to help. You can do this by going to counseling sessions with your teen, and providing help and support as your teenager quits. You should be available to talk, and let your teen know that you will listen to him or her. This is an important part of the intervention, since it shows that you are coming from a place of love and concern, and lets your teen know that you will not abandon him or her.

In the end, a teen drug intervention is about getting help for substance abuse. You need to approach the issue as a family problem, and get loved ones involved so that your teen feels loved and supported, and more likely to make the attempt to stop using drugs.