There may be many different ways that you can find out that your son is using drugs. Money and prescription medicine going missing, changes is your sons mood and behavior, and sickness are signs that your son may be using. Or maybe you just find drugs or paraphernalia outright, confirming suspicions that you may have already had. The question now is what to do.
The first thing is very important. Don’t panic. Drug addiction and alcoholism is very common in America, and there are certainly ways for your son to get help. Drug addiction and alcoholism suffers from such a bad reputation that it may be very daunting and frightening when you discover that your son is using, but the worst thing you can do for yourself and your son is panic and explode in anger and frustration.
Calmly collect your thoughts and approach your son about his use in a way that treats him as a mature adult. He will appreciate being treated as such, and may be more open to sharing his struggles if he feels he is in a a safe place to communicate. Allow him to speak as openly as he will, and be attentive. Validate his emotions and fears, and be there for him. Remember that he is feeling very exposed after being confronted.
It is imperative to be as acutely aware of the details of his account as possible. Notice the way he behaves when asked certain questions, and assess the gravity of the situation. You will find that he will reveal all the answers you are looking for if you just pay attention.
The next step, if you determine that he has a problem, is to seek help. This may mean therapy, an intensive outpatient program, detox, or an inpatient facility if necessary, depending on the severity of the problem. If your son is resistant to treatment, it may be necessary to employ the services of an interventionist, so that you may convince your son that treatment is the only option.
After it is determined what kind of treatment is necessary for your son, it is important to provide love and support to him as he begins to prepare to go through a program. Remember that he is embarking on a journey about which he knows nothing about, and there will be a certain amount of fear about what to expect and what other people will think of him. Remind him that you are there to help him with this problem, and that you stand behind him.
It can be very difficult to learn that your son is using drugs, because as it is stated earlier, addiction has such a horrible reputation in the community. But help is readily available in many forms, and a certain amount of drug use is extremely common among teens, particularly if there is any trauma or life altering event in their life. Even if your son is using drugs it may not mean that he is an addict. It all depends on whether or not he is able to stop using once he starts. Even if he is an addict, there is a solution. Countless people around the world have recovered from drug addiction, so have faith. The answers will come as they were meant to.