16 takeing drugs?

Question

hi im a mother of 4 boys i have a 16 year old who smokes canihbis im getting worried his mood changes are realy bad he not going to school never comes home when told sneeks i suffer from depression my self im scared he might try some thing stronger

Answer 1

I was smoking cannabis at 16 and it didn't do me any harm, that being said, I wasn't skipping school or having mood swings (well not more than a normal 16 year old).

It might be something he grows out of but you might want to let him know how upset you are by it. It's really difficult as there's no one way to deal with the situation.

Answer 2

I was that teenager! I turned out fine, but I would be very worried if my child was doing the same thing. Don't totally freak out, it's really normal, pretty much all kids go through this phase. You have to find that difficult balance between being too strict and making him hate you and being too permissive and making him think you don't care, which is about as bad. In that fine middle is the balance between good discipline (grounding is probably in order) and making him hate you (calling the cops on him or sending him to boot camp may never be forgiven).

While a lot of people would recommend counseling, it really didn't help me at all, and I went to a bunch of counselors. Sometimes it's the situation you're in, maybe he needs a change of school or neighborhood. But probably the most important thing you can do is just let him know you care and talk to him as much as possible. Tell him how you are feeling and ask what he needs or wants. One of my biggest problems was that my mom never really listened to me... sent me to a school I hated and wouldn't let me change until I threatened to drop out altogether.

Answer 3

Its perfectly normal for a teenage boy to have mood swings and not to come home when told. At 16 you have to let him start finding his own way. Smoking cannabis at his age is also pretty normal and it doesn't lead to stronger things.

The best thing you could do would be to let him know that you don't mind him doing it once in a while, and to educate him and yourself about these stronger drugs that you are worried about. Don't fall for all the Government sponsored propaganda like FRANK.com though, most of their information is inaccurate and is only there to scare you. Try www.erowid.org for a more rounded view of drugs.

Answer 4

16 is old enough to know about his family history. If you suspect a mood disorder might be part of the problem, talk to him about your depression. Talk to him about anyone else in your family who has depression. Explain and give him info on its heritability. Give him info on the inclination most have to self-medicate before realizing that they have it. Point out that even if that's not his problem, it probably is for some of his friends. Explain that it's info he needs to know for later in his life even if it's not pertinent now. Explain that he is old enough to go to a doctor without you (if that's true where you live), but that you have no problem taking him IF that's what he feels is right. Explain that the right antidepressant works better than any street med. Tell him no one need know unless he tells them. Also tell him that experimenting a little with pot isn't a major issue, but that trying other drugs is a real concern. Don't talk with judgment or assumption. Treat him like adult, if necessary, start the conversation saying that you need to talk to him as an adult. I took a lot of drugs in my teens. I wish my parents would have explained this to me.

Answer 5

What you need to do is sit down with him and make him listen to you. Tell him all about drugs and about your depression. Opening up to him about something personal like why you have depression might make him open up to you about why he is doing drugs.

My brother was bullied severely in school to the point that he had a complete breakdown and started smoking cannabis. He did it to take him away from everything. He suffers from depression but When he was stoned, he felt like everything was OK and he didn't have a worry in the world. Luckily he never tried anything else just like most stoners.

I'm not defending the use of Cannabis but it is not a stimulant so there is more chance of people doing stronger drugs while they are drinking.

If you sit down and have a heart to heart with your son he will more than likely open up to you. If he is not going to school then there is a high chance that something has happened, so maybe ask his friends. If something bad has happened in school they should be worried too and with a little persuasion they should help you.

Good luck

Answer 6

If he isn't already. I suggest going thru his things to get some soild proof. Or if you already know conclusivly that he is smoking pot go thru looking for things like small plastic baggies with white powder. His attitude changes sounds similar to what happens after someone starts doing speed. You will need to get him some help, once he has started down the path of drug use and abuse.. he won't willingly come back on his own. I say a prayer for you as you begin to deal with this very scary and difficult situation.

Answer 7

As a make certain, i could be nervous relating to the events and human beings attending the social gathering. a million. Will there be the two boys and ladies? 2. Will there be grownup supervision? 3. if so, how nicely am i able to believe the supervision of this make certain? 4. Is it an in one day social gathering, and if so will the two boys and ladies be allowed to attend in one day? 5. Will there be ingesting, smoking, or drugs modern at this social gathering? 6. Will there be shoppers of any of the above factors encouraging little ones to bypass away the social gathering to have interplay in them in the event that they do no longer seem to be allowed? 7. Will there be any sneaking into different rooms to have intercourse? 8. Will little ones be leaving to have interplay in intercourse? 9. Will there be violence at this social gathering? 10. What style of infants would be invited to this social gathering? 11. maximum critically, can my baby be depended directly to no longer have interaction in any of those events?

Answer 8

I'm a father of 2 young boys an i smoke cannabis, its not something that i would encourage my kids to do either. may be try sitting down with your boy and try and make him see what harm it can do to his mental health, as well making him realise that his so called friends may prefer it if he never smoked at all.as for trying hard drugs, it is possible he may want a different buzz but from experience i nearly lost my wife and family through taking harder drugs so when you speak to him about the dangers try to stay calm and not to shout. good luck

Answer 9

The issue of illicit drug use and especially cannabis in adolescents is a common cause of concern for parents. Initially, it important to accept that adolescents will experiment with various areas of their lives including sex, drugs and alcohol.

It appears that your son is exhibiting classic symptoms of cannabis use. These include: change in mood and affect, altered behaviour and problematic socialisation especially around forming relationships and maintaining his education and daily functioning. I suggest that you talk to your son and express your concerns, and confront him in a manner that is none argumentative. If you have evidence to back-up your concerns then present this to him.

Usually, most parents next course of action is to contact a mental health professional. Unfortunately, sometimes mental health professionals need this request to come from the user rather than someone close to them. There is also usually a long waiting list to see someone for cannabis use as priority is given to youngsters you are using harder drugs. Psychological addiction depends on the person wanting to stop. You can say things until you are blue in the face but the need to stop needs to come from the user. You need to present him with love and parental guidance confronting him with his behaviour and explaining why such behaviour is inappropriate and concerning you.

I would also speak to his school to see if they have access to a psychologist or counsellor. They can usually guide you in the right direction and provide family therapy if necessary.

I understand the emotive time you are going through but as a practising mental health practitioner most youngsters do not progress onto harder drugs. However, you can never say never and action needs to be taken to help your son realise what detrimental effects his illicit drug use is having on his psychological and physical health, his relationships with others, his education and future prospects and the possibility of criminal convictions.

I hope this helps. Best of luck.

Answer 10

this is difficult sounds like your son is defying things u tel him to do.
when people take drugs usually its to hide something like the past, bullying, etc. so i would suggest you seek medical help. but start at tlkin to him if he wont listen dont press the fact and see if you can fine someone he will talk to. if not then see a doctor or a professional who can help you. a CAMHS (child and adolescent mental health service) will most probably help you but a referal is needed through your doctor - dependin on the cause.
if it isnt mental issues then rehab will sort him out gettin off the drugs.
sometimes at 16 people take drugs to 'experiement' at the age most children so. but if it is a reocurent thing heppen all of the time then you need some peofessional personal advice and therefore you need to seek that.
Take care
xx