We Have Just Found Out our 18 Year Old Son has been Snorting Oxycodone and Codine

by kate
(nj)

We don't know where to go from here. He says that he and his girlfriend only do it occasionally and they use 2.5 pills to snort! he has been getting the drugs from my bedroom. All painkillers are locked away now.

We tested him and he came up positive for marijuana, opiates and oxycodone. That was yesterday, I have done a lot of research and spoken to people who have experience and no one can tell me how to tell if he is an addict?

I don't know what steps to take now, obviously I don't believe him when he says he will never do it again and he has agreed to random testing, should I take him to rehab or counceling?

What are your recommendations? I need a plan of action before its too late.

Thank you

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Answer

Hi Kate

The fact that your son is using various drugs doesn't necessarily make him an addict. The unfortunate reality is that many teenagers experiment and abuse drugs - for some it's just a phase they grow out of, and for others addiction may be the result.

The test for drug addiction is worth taking, but without knowing your son's using patterns, and how it's affecting him, makes it difficult to determine addiction.

But ultimately you have to do something because your son abusing drugs means he's clearly playing with fire, so the sooner you take action the better.

Counseling with someone who specialises in addictions is a good place to start, because a counselor will be able to assess your son and decide if further treatment like drug rehab is necessary.

But whatever action you take, unless your son gets the message and wants to change and stop taking drugs, he'll find ways and means to simply continue. At a certain point we have to accept that we are powerless to control the actions of someone else, even if they are our children.

So you have to figure out how to get through to your son, so that he actually wants to quit using drugs. Yes, be firm and taking all the actions you've done so far is excellent. Take him for Counseling and treatment if necessary.

But somehow also try and speak to your son in a way that will hopefully help him 'get it,' i.e. as a worried and concerned parent that loves him, but also adult-to-adult, because sometimes kids feel we talk down at them and so just switch off and as a result our messages just don't get through.

There is no perfect formula here unfortunately. Do whatever you can - and then trust that everything will work out as it's meant to. As a parent you can only do your best.

Good Luck and God Bless

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