Teen Substance Abuse

Yesterday was a difficult day. My son reverted to addictive thinking and manipulation.

He stated that he had been having cravings for the last 48 hours. I asked him if he wanted to make a call or attend a meeting. The answer was,”No.” He said he was going to go long boarding to clear his head with a couple of his buddies. I asked, “Which buddies?” The answer I got was not what I was expecting. One of his skate buddies is now a drug dealer. My son went on to say how this individual was going to help him, he would support his recovery.

I was not buying any of this addictive thinking. My boundaries were set. I reminded him that his father and I support recovery. The individual he wanted to get together with does not support recovery.

I told him it was his decision to go, but if he went, to not come home. I asked him to give me the keys to the house and his car. He would not be welcome here anymore. I recommended that he look at halfway houses and make a call, the lifeline. He instead visited his girlfriend, then went on to his Intensive Outpatient Treatment.

This incident reminded me that this is early recovery, with many challenges. My husband said he felt our son was standing on the…edge of the cliff.