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When Drugs Enter Your HomeBy Klaus Klein MA, Registered Clinical CounsellorYou know that things have really gotten bad, when you realize that your son or daughter is not only doing drugs and drinking, but now you find drugs hidden in your home. Rightfully so, you are upset, confused and afraid. Most importantly, you are not sure what to do. You may have had past experiences that end up in a shouting match and you don't want that to happen again. So… what is the alternative? Here's What You Can do -
Most teens already know about the hazards, does that stop them from trying and using? Usually not, even with all the facts that are presented by schools and you as the parents. As adults we expect teens to be logical and then understand and accept our wisdom. The more you try to convince them to change, the more they don't want to listen. This can be become very frustrating, disappointing, and exhausting often leading to anger. Yes, curbing your temper is not always easy to do. But, if you want to resolve the situation effectively, you are going to have to be calm. This may require that you take a step back and ground yourself before grounding your teen. It also requires to have a clear picture of what you can control and what you're going to do about it. Remember that being in charge of a situation is different than trying to control another person's behaviour. When ready, you can begin your discussion with your teen by making statements about what you see going on in your home. You can approach your teen letting him or her know that:
Keep in mind that you cannot always control what your son or daughter does outside the home but you're in charge of what goes on in your home. Being in charge in the home is an action that you can take anytime and be in control of.
Establishing rules and boundaries and then not following through is one of the biggest mistakes parents make. This only intensifies the problem so that next time your words will continue to be disrespected. Follow through with your actions and get support from other adults as well. The safety and integrity of your home should be one of the centre pillars that you want to have in place. This can at times create more hostility in the short term because the teen is no longer getting their way around the house. Be prepared to stand in your values rather than in your emotions. In the long term teens also want a safe home to live in, especially when the day comes when they decide to use less or even quit. You want to know that your teen can tell his or her friends that they cannot keep, stash, or hide anything in the house that is illegal because the parents will take it away. That is a clear message and a clear boundary that starts with parents. Sign up for my free newsletter, "Teen Relations"and get my
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