Can someone share a sucess story concerning a teen alcohoic? I am afraid for my son.?

Question

My son is 16 years old & is in the hospital with blood alcohol poisoning. He was found unconsious on the side of a street. I have set up arrangements for a 10 day outpatient program, but I am still afraid of how to deal with this as a mom. I am hoping someone can help me with my fears. Thank-you

Thank You for the great responses. I am greatful for the honesty & advice. The Dr. said that he is very lucky, the CAT scan & MRI showed no brain damage,( that was a fear of his) WE spoke with his friends & they said he drinks all the time, so do they, its not a problem! OMG, These kids are 15-17 years old!!! Anyways, I will look into alanon & maybe revise my schedule to be home more. Also, Thanks for reminding me about not critisizing... He is dealing with the death of a dad, although it has been 4 years ago last week, it still haunts him. I will take the advice and talk To him instead of At him, but stay strong with my parameters.
Again... Thank you!!!

Answer 1

I am a recovering Alchoic , 5yrs. sober . I personally know many
who did get sober as teens . There is always hope . If you haven't heard of it yet I suggest going to Alanon very very strongly . This program is for the family of alcholics , they teach you how to deal with us and how not to be an enabler . I also have many friends in that program . they say it has helped emencley . They also teach you what to expect . Remember if you think he has a problem do not hesitate to get him help . I am a 52 yr. old women with 2 kids God has choosen to spare me from them being on drugs or alcohol . I guess he figured I had enough
to deal with . This is the hardest disease for anyone to understand . But none of us asked for it anymore than we would ask for Cancer . God bless you and your son . I will say a prayer for both of you .

Answer 2

Wish you and son best with a 10-day outpatient program. I wasn't aware of such a brief program. Do hope it's really intense, serious business. "You can lead a horse to water, but can't make him drink."

Son may not take to it; but the seed will have been planted. If, indeed, he's diagnosed with alcoholism, he'll be amazed at the number of teens just like him at young people's 12-step recovery meetings. They've found new, fun social lives without drugs such as alcohol.

As for you and your fears -- counselors at his treatment center; other women in your situation, including those in a 12-step group such as Al-Anon, will show you the way, how to be supportive without being a "nag," how to let go, etc.

By now, you might already be involved as a parent in that outpatient program. You'll find lots of good literature and wisdom. And, if it's deemed your son has an addiction disease, or is headed for one, I recommend you try Al-Anon meetings. Check phone book. (Families of addicted)

My son's sure path to addiction was stopped at age 19 due to auto accident. That was nearly 18 years ago. Since his brain injury, can't drink alcohol with anti-seizure meds. He found education and career successes, and happiness, without booze.

Always remember: Alcoholism IS A DISEASE. be it acquired via heredity, environment, or whatever. It's not about self-control. As with diabetes, no one gets up one morning deciding to become an alcoholic or a diabetic. The recovery process is forever. Fortunately, one of these two diseases has a 12-step program, a roadmap for daily living.

I wish both you and your son the best.

A mom; a grateful recovering alcoholic

Answer 3

Bless you.
I know how you feel- my 14 year old son recently moved to his dad's (6 hours away by car) for the school year, and a week ago Saturday, he drank a significant amount of vodka when he was home alone. His dad & stepmom were out with friends and got home late that night, and didn't check in his room- but when they went in to wake him up the next morning, he was covered in vomit- it was everywhere. He had thrown up in his sleep and didn't remember, but thank God he did vomit, and thank God he didn't die from strangling on it. I have been a nervous wreck, so I can imagine what you are going through.
They took him to a counselor the following Monday, and to an AA meeting. They are going to get him involved in the youth group at their church, and get him on a mentoring program. There are many young adults who have lived through this sort of thing, so kids will listen to them about their experiences. Many times, they will not listen if someone who has never fallen tries to tell them. God has a plan for your son's life, and your son needs to know that. He didn't get "lucky" not to have died- God intervened.
I don't know what your situation is- if you are a single mom, or if you belong to a church- but seek out people who can make a difference in both of your lives.
My son is not allowed to be around the same friends he had when he lived with me last school year, and we will continue to keep close tabs on who he sees and where he goes until he has shown more maturity in the decisions he makes. It is not the same world it was 20 or 30 years ago- it has become commonplace to get drunk, do drugs, have sex, all too young. What a society we live in.
All those things are wrong, and there is a moral basis and real reasons for not doing these things. I will pray for guidance to help you deal with this, and for your son as well.

Answer 4

Your fears are understandable. Although I do not have an alcohol success story I can tell you from my experience with things such as chronic smoking, self-harm and other drug abuse (I am only 17).

My mother consistently told me to stop, so did all my friends, mum even threatened to withdraw my privillages as a threat (a foolish move, its never that simple and actually detrimental), but following a gymnastics (my life, I love it) I took a bad fall realizing that I had smoked so much that my blood could not carry enough oxygen to my arms to do a hand stand). It was then I realized that it was indeed having a bad effect on my health. I got expelled from school for being drunk on campus, that's when I stopped drinking alcohol and My Girlfriend who I love more than anything nearly left me when I was on drugs, but came back and gave me moral support and I guess I stopped for her, myself and my little brothers. Following two bouts with nicotine poisoning (look it up, it aint pretty - had to smoke a crap load to get that far).

This experience may be enough to set your son straight if you handle it the right way (with love and understanding). Don't make him feel he is a freak and there is something terribly wrong with him and he is in a glass jar under observation.

So What I am Trying To say is: Nothing is impossible, but it is hard, moral support is very important but the most important thing is inner-determination and all you can do is help your son find it. He needs to WANT TO QUIT.

The effort to stop has to come from within, you can be there for moral support - do not be judgemental, do not tell him off, do not make him feel like a pathetic creature as parents are tempted to do in their anger but show your love, and help him find himself because to OVERCOME ANY ADDICTION the will and effort need to come from within the victim and you can only help them find it. Do not step out of your son's life at this point, step in to it.

Answer 5

You need to be tough on him. Make sure he remembers how embarrassed he is when he realizes the stupid thing he did. Know him, his life, the people in it, the friends hes with. I don't care if u invade is privacy.

I'm 20 years old and cant begin to tell you how many kids i new that have drug and alcohol problems because the parents just didn't get involved with there lives. Fight with him, get ready to have a war, because he needs to know how stupid he was for doing that.

The good news is some kids who drink that bad, allot of times feel overwhelmed with nausea when the thought of alcohol comes to mined.

Over all be there for him and do what you can to stop that from happening again. It one of the most destructive things that he could do.

I wish you the best of luck with this.

Answer 6

i have been given preg at 16 and gave delivery 20 days after my 17 b-day. even as i became about 5 month preg i finished going to severe college and went on independant study. thast the position i met with a instructor once a week to teach in artwork and get new artwork and take any tests i had to take. i finshed that when I had my son and graduated a year formerly than if i had stayed on the surely college.i lived with my mom and thanks to her i became in a position to stay living house with my son and end college that 1st year. i have been given a job and a automobile when I became 18. i became on and rancid for decades including his father yet he extremely went downhill and is only a mess (penitentiary/drugs). my oldest is now 8 and that i'm 25. I have the great husband who I have commonly used in view that we were about 13. we dated in jr severe and were continuously friends. he became there when I gave delivery to my oldest son. my husband and that i have 2 boys mutually 3 years previous and eight months previous and that i'm 13 weeks preg with our very last infant. fortunately my oldest son in ordinary words sees his actual dad everyother weekend so with slightly of success he doesnt %. up any loser characteristics (that extremely scares me) only a lil data- actual dad married a chick who has 5 childrens yet lost custody to all yet 2, neither one will artwork, they both flow to and fro between thier mothers and fathers homes to stay and assemble welfare. he owes 8,000$ in newborn help theres so a lot extra yet ya get it?. he became compared to that when we were 16, he continuously had a job from 16-per chance two decades previous then he got here across drugs.my husband works not ordinary so i am going to be a stay at living house mom, something this is major to me yet i concept would in no way ensue. my oldest son and my husband have an excellent courting and every person who ever does locate out the oldest isn't my husbands doesnt trust it, they offer the effect of being alike and they have a wonderfull love for an further.i'd sound like a hipocrit yet thast why i imagine kids could not choose to have a touch one, you could imagine you realize the boy yet you extremely do not understand what type of guy he turns into. any questions?

Answer 7

First your son may not be an alcoholic. Lots of teens binge drink, and when teens drink they rarely think about moderation or self control. If your son is not an alcoholic their is a good chance he will reform his behavior after this experience.

Answer 8

sure can lisin all teens drink or smoke or both, they just dont let on cuz they know there parents will kick thier ***'s personaly i started at 13 my cuzins did around that time of age to, ones in the army the others a contractor,lots of$$$

Answer 9

let me just tell ya somethin...............thank u doesnt hav a dash (-) thingy in between thank and u