Life-threatening? What should I do?

Question

My brother has started to dabble in some risky behavior. He is in his early 20's, and I worry for his post-secondary schooling. It started out with drinking alcohol (most kids do, I understand, so not so huge of a deal. Then he got into weed (most kids do, not a big deal, right?). Then something happened that changed my viewpoint: he got a DUI. It got me worried for his safety, but I didn't try to help him or give him counseling. After that, he started getting weird. He stopped going to classes and quit his job. I figured he just wanted a break; but soon thereafter he started stealing stuff. One time he even stole a laptop (grand theft, felony). I thought about intervening, but didn't. That was my error. Now, I recently find out he is doing heavy drugs like heroin and cocaine. He might even have started stealing at gun/knife point, I'm unsure. What should I do? I don't want to break our trust, but at the same time I don't want him to be harmed/jailed. I am under almost 18 myself, and my brother/me and my sister (14) and youngest brother (12) still live with my mom. Should I warn my mom, or what?

Answer 1

Definately tell your mom this is a serious case and it leads to addiction he needs help you're not breaking your trust u LOVE him and it would hurt him in the long run if u keep this a secret from the ones that love him as well.He will thank u later act fast tell your mother because life is short and u would regret the fact that you kept that horrible secret if something tragic happens to him

Answer 2

Explain that his behavior is self destructive.  You or somebody else must intervene before he harms others or himself through an accident or overdose.

Answer 3

First get your facts in order, then sit your Mom down in a quiet place with no interruptions, and tell her. There are many so many ways to handle this, but the truth has to be told, before something or someone is hurt!!!!

Answer 4

Your brother is an adult.  Your mom should know about what he is doing, if he lives under her roof.  Most parents know more than the kids realize.  

Your brother has made his choices, it's good you realize his choices are wrong.  By the way, most kids do not do weed, less than 40 percent.  That and weed can easily lead to other things.  Stay away, as well as stay away from alcohol until you are old enough, then drink responsibly.  No drinking and driving.

Back to your brother, you cannot live his life for him.  But you care about him, so tell him so.  Let him know that you care about him, and you know he has chosen some paths that can cause pain for him.  Let him know you do not agree with those paths and you want him to be safe.  It is now his choice, not yours.  

Good luck.

Answer 5

"It started out with drinking alcohol (most kids do, I understand, so not so huge of a deal. Then he got into weed (most kids do, not a big deal, right?)."

This is a huge deal, because this is how it all gets started.

Don't intervene.  Let him go to jail/prison.  He's an adult, by God, he needs to GROW UP!

You can tell your mom, but hopefully she'll let him suffer his consequences.  

I have absolutely NO sympathy for drunk drivers.  My husband's sister and her husband were killed thanks to a drunk driver.

The ONLY way you should help him is by calling the cops and turning him in before he gets himself killed, or before he goes ahead and does something like what happened to my husband's sister and her husband, and orphan a 2 year old little boy.

Answer 6

You better tell mom soon you almost waited too long