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Intervention 101
Take Control of Teen Drug Use
By Shel Franco
Marilyn Parker of St. Louis, Mo., waited for her son to return home. It was his first evening out since being grounded for smoking cigarettes. When he walked through the door, Parker knew something was wrong. She searched his clothing and uncovered a bag of marijuana in his pocket.
It's every parent's worst nightmare: Your kid is using drugs. Maybe you found marijuana in his backpack or alcohol hidden in her room. Regardless of how you know, the question now is: What are you going to do about it?
"The first and most important thing is to get help for the child and get over the guilty feelings," says Sue Rusche, executive director of National Families in Action, a drug prevention agency in Atlanta, Ga. If feelings of parental failure are interfering with your ability to address the situation, Rusche suggests enlisting the help of a parent support group. These groups, situated throughout the country, will guide you through the early stages. Once you've found the support you need, it's time to help your child.
The counselor will give recommendations for what types of treatment or counseling are best suited to your teen's individual level of drug use. The treatment might include inpatient rehabilitation or outpatient counseling. Keep in mind that an initial assessment by the drug counselor will save time and money.
