You’re flooded with many different emotions when you know your teen is using drugs or alcohol. Often you’re concerned, but not sure what to do. Is this just an experimental stage that will pass? Is he just being a typical rebellious teen? You tell yourself that as long as it doesn’t get out of hand, you’re not too worried. It won’t happen again, right?
This inner dialogue is common among parents and enables them to avoid harsh conversations. But experts agree that it’s never too early to intervene if your teen or young adult child is using drugs or alcohol. In fact, the earlier you can show loving concern and help guide your teen to make better choices, the more positive the outcome will be.
“If your son comes home drunk for the first time, you may be tempted to give him a one-time pass. If you catch your daughter getting high, you might be so overwhelmed that you avoid confrontation altogether. The first time can lead to many other times, so early intervention can make a world of difference,” says Dr. Robert Meyers, creator of the CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training) approach and co-developer of Parent CRAFT, which adapts this approach for parents.
By the end of high school, about 75 percent of adolescents have tried alcohol, and more than half of 12th graders report having been drunk at least once in their life, according to JAMA Pediatrics. Furthermore, 8.8 percent of 12 to 17-year-olds and 21.5 percent of 18 to 25-year-olds use illicit drugs, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services.
Dr. Meyers notes the brain doesn’t completely mature until the mid-to-late twenties. This means any drug or alcohol use can have a negative effect on a still-developing mind. It also means that it’s difficult for youth to fully understand how their behavior will affect them in the short and long terms. Parents who try to talk to their children about drugs and alcohol, however, often hit roadblocks, which leave them feeling helpless.
For parents facing thee challenges, there here is hope. According to a study from the Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse and Addictions, the CRAFT approach is extremely effective in reaching people who are abusing drugs and alcohol. During a 6-month study, users of CRAFT were 74 percent successful at engaging their resistant loved one in treatment.
So why wait? It’s never too early to help your son or daughter make a positive change in his or her life.
