Q: My son who is 18 years old has been smoking pot for several years and now has begun snorting cocaine and probably using other drugs. I can’t seem to get through to him. What can I do to help him get off drugs? What are my first steps? I am scared to death he will end up dead due to an over dose or someone killing him.

A: Watching a child put himself at risk is one of the scariest things a parent can go through. I hope you have a partner and good friends around you to give you the support you need. Teens and drugs is such a complicated issue that a short answer in the “ask” section of this website can’t do it justice. I wrote a full length article for our library awhile ago. I hope you find it helpful. You can find it at

http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/04/teens-and-drugs-what-a-parent-can-do-to-help/

I wish you well.
Dr. Marie

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Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 20 Jan 2007