Your teenage child comes to you and confesses that....

Poll - Total Votes: 33

Talk to your child about the risk of drug use

Discipline the child

Seek input from an expert in handling these issues with children

Something else

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You can only vote on one answer.

they have been experimenting with drugs. You are torn between wanting to protect them from the risks and dangers of drug use and wanting to maintain a trusting and open relationship with them.

How will you handle this situation?

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Abstraction · 61-69, M

Something else. I had four teenage kids and each one was a different proposition and different at different ages. I would have to read the situation. They usually know that drugs are harmful I don't think it's lecture time. It's listening time.

But I wouldn't react. My first response would be one of [b][i]connection[/i][/b]. Acceptance of them as a person and reaffirming the open door of communication because that's the golden pathway that doesn't always appear. I would want to know what was drawing them towards drugs. It could be the peer group. It could be anxiety, depression or dark thoughts. It could be misinformation. There's no prescription without a diagnosis.
Kids test you. They put out a piece of questionable information and if you overreact in their eyes they won't tell you the deeper issues.

Lyfis2live

@Abstraction How old are your kids now?

Abstraction · 61-69, M

@Lyfis2live 20s and 30s.

Lyfis2live

@Abstraction Ok.