Across this country there are millions of teens in trouble. The most dangerous drugs are now available in almost any town—perhaps the worst, methamphetamine, is actually most easily available in small towns and rural areas. Binge drinking has become a teen epidemic, and unsafe and unwise sex is also all too common. Many of these problems have always existed, but the stakes are higher than ever today. If you or someone you know has teens in trouble, all hope is not lost. Take a second to consider these facts.
To begin with, teens in trouble are frequently crying out for help. The intensity of their rage is heightened by their wild adolescent hormones, of course, but it is also frequently a sign that they want someone to stop them. Even if consciously they insist to everybody and themselves that they are fine, that they can take care of themselves, that they won’t let anybody stop them, deep down they know that they need some real help. It can be very difficult to use force on your teen, to do things that cause them to say that they hate you, that they’ll never talk to you again or even to threaten suicide. You must push past this and get them help anyways.
And teens in trouble are also very “clever” at dressing up their sins as innocence. Bad friends or lovers often start out as just good natured pals or sweethearts. They will suggest you have no right to keep them from certain people. If you buy into this logic, you are an enabler and you are harming your child as much as the sex, drugs and booze are. Some people really are bad, and as long as your child spends time with other teens in trouble they will be threatened with addiction, jail and even death. If you have to send your child far away to protect them from these people, there are resources available to do just that.
Every child will test the limits you set on them, and rebellion is a vital part of becoming an adult. But when laws are being broken, dangerous drugs being consumed or their education put in jeopardy then things have hit a turning point. Talk to their school counselor, a member of your clergy, your therapist or your local AA or Al-Anon meeting for guidance in how to save your child’s life.
