Drug abuse in the teen?
Advice on handling adolescent using drugs (Most of this
published in a journal):
- Require
immediate cessation of alcohol and illicit drugs.
- Require
immediate and permanent cessation of contact with drug using friends.
- Allow
attendance at concerts only under mature adult supervision.
- Do
not allow attendance at parties unless supervised by a mature responsible
adult.
- Set
an appropriate curfew unless accompanied by a responsible adult.
The adolescent’s whereabouts should be known my parents at all
times.
- Do
not allow use of a car for at least 3 months unless the parents know where
the teen is going and the parent checks on them. Tell the teen that if that contract is broken, the state
motor vehicle bureau will be notified of the drug problem and asked to
suspend the teen’s license until he or she has been drug free for at
least 6 months.
- Give
the teen only a limited amount of spending money.
Paychecks should be deposited and withdrawals should be approved by
parent. Consider changing or
stopping the job because of the money used inappropriately and the
influence by other at the work place to use drugs.
- Restitution
should be made for any stolen items or destroyed property.
- Do
not allow verbal or physical abuse.
- Initially
require urinalysis on a random weekly basis.
- Lock
up all alcoholic beverages and remove tranquilizers, amphetamines,
barbiturates, and sleeping pills from medicine cabinets.
- Your teen is a minor in your house.
They have not attained full adult privileges.
So the parent has the right to search their room and even tap and
record phone lines. They have
lost the right of privacy. No
phone in their room is a good plan. What
should they be saying to their friends that you should not be hearing?
Dr. Knapp
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