Help for parents and their child's drug abuse?

Question

My boyfriend's brother has been doing cocaine and all that drug stuff I don't know about and its sad when my boyfriend's mom even asks me for help. They have very little money and I promised her I would try to help. She wants her son to stop because he is quickly becoming addicted. She wants to teach him a lesson and help him to stop. Therapy is not the answer in this situation. He's very tough and he needs something that is straight on and challenging. He is only 15. Please help.

Answer 1

I don't see what you can do that his family has not already done. I'm sure they have talked to him, told him how they feel, tried to reason with him, offered support, and/or taken away his privileges. What more could you do?   Why is therapy not the answer?  A drug addiction will not be cured by his family.  He needs professional help; perhaps his family does too.  

He should be placed in a treatment program for teens.  I don't think a lot of money is required; some programs are covered by insurance and others charge according to ability to pay. I don't think he has to agree to it. His parents or the court can commit him.  If his mother is looking for something "straight on and challenging," that would be it.

I think you are very caring and want to help - good for you.  But this might be a bigger problem than you and your boyfriend can take on alone.  Good luck.

Answer 2

Please do not tell her to try the TOUGH LOVE APPROACH!!! This is the worst thing she  could do. Her son needs all her love and support to get through this, He certaintly does not need her to be uncaring and unloving toward him. He needs to know he is loved and that his mum will support him through this difficult time

Answer 3

Suggest that she attend an Al Anon meeting.  There she can see that she is not alone and she may even find someone who knows about help that is available locally for her son.

Answer 4

Na, narcotics anonymous. The turning yourself over the higher power of God will save him. I wish you and your boyfriend and his brother the best. From my own experience, reading the Holy Bible the only thing that saved me, this is the truth

Answer 5

Tell her to get "Toughlove Parent's Manual" by Phyllis and David York.  It is a very no-nonsense approach to dealing with this sort of behavior.  If she can not find it on amazon or something or can't afford it, email me and I will mail a photo copy of my book to her.  Good Luck.  

Answer 6

if hs into sports tell him to try tackle football my brother has  never done drugs hes his age and he has played football for pretty much his whole life

Answer 7

Umm there's no way to stop it without therapy or rehab.  Look up the show intervention and apply.  They give free help.  The only other things I can think of are involving the police, etc...  Drugs are a scary road and it gets worse from there, especially at a young age.

Answer 8

If he is 15, put him in rehab or military school. he is under age and he can't say he doesn't want to go. Believe me, no matter what he tells you guys or does, this is the best thing you can do for him. The boy accross the street just died because of drug use...he was only 24 and I was soooooo sad to know that he died this way and his mom never took the step to get him some help. I think parents feel guilty, but don't let them walk in his room one day and find him dead and then lament not doing anything to help him. Cocaine is a hard core drug, its not like smoking weed...he needs help now before its too late...My neighbor was just buried yesterday and me and the other nieghbor were sitting in the driveway laughing about all the shinanigans he used to get into as a kid...made us really sad for him and his family...

Answer 9

Rehab or a sober living is really the best option but NA and AA are great as well. The program is a commitment to sobriety and really great connections can be formed at meetings. For those of you who are dealing with him, I suggest Al-Anon, it's NA/AA for those affected and the connections, support, and advice is unparalleled. All of these programs have websites and meetings world-wide. I suggest you check into this. There's Ala-Teen for the younger kids dealing with it and meetings have people of all ages, races, and backgrounds. I'd say, if you can figure it out, get a law enforcement program involved that sends these kids into the wilderness. Honestly, I was 18 when I got sober, so I had a choice and it wasn't fun but I got into the program, met my current boyfriend, and we're doing great. I did 6 months of residential treatment though...

Answer 10

As a counselor, I have experience in working on these kind of issues.  As the parent, she can have him admitted to an inpatient/residential treatment program.  A lot of these programs take Public assistance insurance (medicaid/medical assistance), so if their income is low, she can qualify for this to cover the expense.