The problem today is that drugs are more available and more culturally acceptable than ever before.  Heroin used to be a dirty drug you had to shoot up.  Nowadays, for example, drug dealers have innovated and discovered ways to make it a drug you snort or smoke—young people are more likely to get involved.  And while marijuana isn’t nearly as dangerous as these other drugs, it is now acceptable to use and can lead into other criminal activities.  No matter how nice and smart and clean your kid is, the teenage drug addiction statistics can take them.  They will someday be offered illegal drugs, if they haven’t already.  The wrong decision can lead to heartbreak for everybody.

The solution is honesty and frankness.  It is easy to fall into the “not my kid” trap.  Denial is not just a river in Egypt, and parents let their kids continue on the downward spiral of a teenage drug addict every day because they refuse to believe that their child is in trouble.  Whether you are rich, Christian, in a “functional” family and smart or poor, heathen, a broken home and uneducated your child can fall into the trap of addiction.  As a result, it isn’t a judgment on your parenting skills if teenage drug addiction visits your family.  Don’t let bruised pride get in the way of getting your child the help he or she needs.

Wherever you live—a posh suburb or a rough inner city or out in the country—drugs can find your child.  If you are facing a teenage drug addiction problem in your family there are resources available to you.  Talk to your minister, to a school counselor or visit your local AA meeting and help can be on the way today.