How to handle/respond to teenager who is serious marijuana abuser (& who refuses treatment or help)?

Answer 1

See him/her to the door of the treatment center, and take his/her house keys. The teenager has to make the choice to walk through the door and accept treatment. Upon completion of the program, welcome him/her home. Make it clear that he/she can't come home under the current circumstances. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink....

Answer 2

First, be very thankful that it is marijuana rather than one of so many other much more harmful drugs out there. It could be worse, if that offers any comfort.

Now, there are two kinds of teenagers out there. There are the ones who listen to their parents, and there are the ones who do not. When you approach it knowing this, knowing you have a 50/50 shot, it helps ease the stress... allowing you to be calm and approach this as if you were having an adult conversation, rather than parent to child...

Sit down with your child and talk to them, calmly, think before you speak. Talk to them, not at them... Ask to make a request, or a deal if you will. That they consider this: To stop smoking for a set length of time, and concentrate on life and what they want to become, where they want to go and what it will take to get there. If, in that set amount of time, they do not notice an improvement in their memory, focus, concentration level, that they do not see the benefit of losing the habit, then they can go back to smoking and you will say nothing about it, so long as they do not smoke again until after the time period is up. Sometimes you have to make deals with kids and trick them into seeing the right path themselves, instead of you forcing them kicking and screaming down it. If your child is the type that listens to their parents when approached as equals, then chances are good that your child will give it a try, and perhaps never smoke again. If your child is the kind that does not listen, then they will simply agree, then hide the fact from you long enough to say they started back up after the time period was over, or they will not agree and continue as they are apt to do... and will likely do no matter what happens.

Answer 3

Take it from me, there is nothing you can do because he doesn't want to quit smoking. Calling the cops or putting him in treatment will only cause more problems and make him resent you. The biggest thing you have to worry about with marijuana is the law. It's not as addictive or dangerous as alcohol and other drugs. Just be thankful he's not a drunk.

Answer 4

I know this might sound hard, but you might just have to let him/her learn. I know some people who are like that, they won't admit they have a problem [of course] and they won't get help. And if they do its because they think it will get you off of their back. If you don't want anything to happen to them you have to act hard though, you gotta draw the line and lay down the rules. Nobody wants to hear somebody tell them "You are a drug addict" but when you say it, it might make something click. If you know where they are getting it from, cut of there supply. You can't just sit around. If they don't want help, fine let them learn, but while they are out messing up them selfs, be planning your plan B because they will fall back and end up needing you. Its not like they don't know drugs are bad for them, its an addiction or a rebellion. But either one you can stop. If it gets really serious call the police or juvy, if they want to act like a thug, treat them like a thug. And they will soon see that the life isn't for them, and if they don't, they have problems deeeper than a few joints here and there. Hope everything goes well.

Answer 5

Chances are your teenager thinks that even if you do call the police on him, whatever because it will be off his record when he turns 18. I had "friends" like this in high school. Also, I'm pretty sure you can't send someone into rehab if they are unwilling, but you might be able to. There really, honestly, is not much that you can do. They have to want to get sober for it to actually work. Tell them that since they are going to be smoking marijuana while living in your house, then they need to get a job and pay for EVERYTHING. Like have them pay $300 a month for "rent".. $200 for food.. ect until their entire earnings go into living in your house. Save this money off to the side, and tell them that in the real world, you are not always going to be there to pay for everything. If smoking marijuana causes them to lose their job, make them do endless housework to pay off their debts. Tell them that once they decide they want to become sober, you will pay for their treatment (with the money they gave you) or if they become COMPLETELY sober on their own, invest that money into college. I doubt they will do it all on their own and will need help. But doing all that teaches them responsibility and about how their money is going to have to go to more important things, like paying rent and for food, instead of drugs.
I hope I helped.. and I really hope things get better for your son/daughter so they have a bright future.

Answer 6

Get them into a treatment facility NOW. Use one that will keep them for at least 30 days. Then make it clear that if you so much as suspect they are using it again you will call the police. Then do it. This will seem uncomfortable now but you will all be better off later. And yes, they will be mad, but, tell them you would rather have them mad and alive rather than dead.

Answer 7

mj is only physiologically addictive and to date has no proven adverse health effects. there isn't even one case of lung cancer that has been attributed to mj use alone. Havard Medical School has just completed a 30 year study on mj use.

if the teen refuses to get help there is nothing you can do. study has already proven that you can not force anyone to quit anything, it's up to them to make the change.

Answer 8

if you try to suppress any behavior you're likely to amplify it or it will appear in some other form. marijuana is the least of your concerns when facing teen drug use, meth is the worst! i would ask your teen what role this is playing for them and how he/she characterizes their use... be with, instead of against ...what you resist , persists!

Answer 9

If they are a minor and you have insurance that covers 30 days of addiction counselling inpatient get them in there now.

Answer 10

Well first off try to stop him our threaten to call the police on him if he continues if you have dont marijuna with him at one point then im not sure.