Teen addicted to Marijuina
My teenager(19) is using Marijuana and he refuses to quit, he says it helps him to be more creative and it is his life and he will do what he wants.
We have gone to a drug counselor but he refuses to quit. What can I do?
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Teen addicted…
Hi-Thanks for writing. From the time I was 16 to 28 years old I drank alcohol and then started smoking pot. As the years went on my addiction got worse and it got to the point where I used both every day. I can’t believe that I used to think that as long as I could use that everything would be OK. However, I was never happy-always worrying about when the pot would run out and if I could get more. Finally, at 27 I became pregnant with my son. I did not use while I was pregnant but after my son was born I started drinking again. I saw that I could not be a good mother if I continued. I “quit” several times but kept going back and I then got some help. I first went to my medical doctor. He gave me something to help me sleep (non-addictive) because one of my big fears was not being able to sleep if I could not drink (by then I had quit pot because of not being able to find it anymore where we moved). My doctor told me to go to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, which I did, and I also got a drug and alcohol counselor. The hardest part for me was accepting that I could NEVER drink again. I have now been clean for 25 years. I truly believe your son needs help but until he realizes it I don’t think that there is anything you can do. I now go to Al Anon meetings (for friends and families of alcoholics and drug addicts) because my son has struggled with substance abuse for many years. It has helped me a lot. People used to tell me that there was nothing I could do for my son if he did not want to quit, but I kept trying to help him for many years. I now realize that they are right and that I have to walk my road and he has to walk his. There I met others in the same or similar situation as myself. I really think the best thing for you to do would be for you to go to an Al Anon meeting. Get some support for YOURSELF. I also see a counselor, talk to my minister and see a physician’s assistant. YOU ARE NOT ALONE! I hope that I have helped you in some way. Good luck and I will pray for you. -Lynette |
