Sponsored Links

Trouble with teen

Hi everyone,

I am a mother of 2 living in Northern California. My older son is 18 and my younger one is 15. Ever since my oldest left for college my youngest one has been more and more trouble. He seems to be drinking all the time with his friends and I hope not anything else but I do not know. I think my oldest used to keep a tight grip on him but now that he is 3000 miles a way it is tough. My youngest won't listen to anything I say. I just see things getting worse and worse. Grades are slipping and I know everything he is doing is bad for jim as well. My husband and I drink occasionally but have never had any sort of problem.

Any advice? Any parents dealt with something like this? Thanks in advance.

---Worried Mom

Trouble with teen

I am very sorry to hear about your situation. It is definitely not any easy thing to deal with when you have a growing teen who is in a rebellious stage and is easily influenced by his surroundings. Have you tried to get your older son involved. It seems he has good influence. Will he be back over the holidays. The first step is to work with a discussion but to do it in a nurturing way as not to push him away.

Trouble with teen

:( Drinking is a problem when it causes trouble in family relationships, school and social activities, or affects how a person thinks and feels.

Having assisted teens in this area for a lot of years, please remember that alcohol kills more male teenagers and young men than any other drug taken to affect mood and behavior (heroin, cocaine, marijuana).

Most deaths and injury due to alcohol are caused by the way people behave when under its influence. Men fight more, drive more recklessly , and engage in more risky behaviors. Alcohol use is a leading risk factor for the three leading causes of death among youth: unintentional injuries (including motor vehicle crashes and drownings), suicides; and homicides.

Alcohol also puts you at greater risk from sexual behavior where you find you have more than you had planned on- a sexually transmitted disease or an unwanted pregnancy!

Who wants to be a father at 15? Alcohol is a drug and you can become addicted to it. Even one beer can slow your reactions and confuse your thinking. Alcohol also changes the way you act. It can make you let go of the feelings that keep you from doing things you know are risky or dangerous. Mounting research suggests that alcohol causes more damage to the developing brains of teenagers than was previously thought, injuring them significantly more than it does adult brains. The findings, though preliminary, have demolished the assumption that people can drink heavily for years before causing themselves significant neurological injury. And the research even suggests that early heavy drinking may undermine the precise neurological capacities needed to protect oneself from alcoholism.

The new findings may help explain why people who begin drinking at an early age face enormous risks of becoming alcoholics. Get you soon assistance now. He is drinking because he is hurting, and he needs to know how to handle this when it comes up again in his life or he will keep resulting to self-harming behaviors. :(

Trouble with teen

Well said!

worried mom in ms.

hey, i have 3 kids dealing with addiction, it is very hard, i no what i put my mom thru now!!!
keep the faith , pray pray, i have too!!! try alonon!

 

Call to Speak to a Specialist

Call 1-866-936-3121 any time to discuss treatment options if you or a loved one has a problem with addiction.

Sponsored Links

Treatment Center State and City Search

Select a state from the list below to begin your search for a treatment center that is right for you.

 

Support Groups

SupportGroups.com

For individuals, friends and families who are looking to connect during life's challenging times. Share personal experiences, evaluate information and get support during times of need, illness, treatment or recovery.

Self Tests


Related Articles

  • news thumbnail
    Interview with a woman sex addict
    The following is an interview with a woman who self-identified as being in recovery from a sex addiction.  She is in her 40?s, professional, and married with children.  She asked to remain anonymous…
  • news thumbnail
    Addiction Cycle
    In the world of addiction there is something called the "cycle of addiction." It begins with a trigger and leads to full-scale addiction. Perhaps the trigger is some kind of emotional pain -- a dea…
  • news thumbnail
    The Characteristics of Alcoholism
    Even though it has a long history – as far back as Egyptians there are records of problem drinkers – alcoholism seems to defy a clear scientific description. The characteristics vary between users…
 

disclaimer

The information provided on MyAddiction.com is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her health professional. This information is solely for informational and educational purposes. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Neither the owners or employees of MyAddiction.com nor the author(s) of site content take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading this site. Always speak with your primary health care provider before engaging in any form of self treatment. Please see our Legal Statement for further information.

Sponsored Links

Online Support Groups

visit SupportGroups.com

SupportGroups.com provides a support network for those facing life's challenges. Click on the following links to get the support in a confidential, caring environment.

Selected Support Groups

 
Call 877-568-6240 anytime to speak with an addiction specialist.