What to do if your teen is abusing cocaine?

Figuring out the best way to help your teen recognize the dangers of his or her cocaine abuse can be a difficult task. As a parent, you probably are full of questions about what you should do, from "should I drug test my teenager," to "what do I say," and "when is the best time to address drug abuse". Teens often are in denial about cocaine addiction, and when discussions about drug abuse are not carried out in the proper way, some teens may become angry, aggressive, or even violent. While confronting teen with cocaine addiction is never easy, we have some tips gleaned from the National Institute on Drug Abuse that will help you steer the encounter to a positive resolution.

1. Remain calm and composed

Television shows typically portray interventions as adversarial events that often devolve into accusations or screaming. Getting upset or argumentative when you confront your teen about his or her drug abuse is not going to produce a beneficial outcome, and may cause your teen to react with hostility or even violence. If you want your teen to hear and consider what you are saying, you are going to need to remain calm, composed, and in control when confronting teen about cocaine addiction.

2. Choose the right time

Confronting teens about cocaine addiction when they are high is not going to productive. At that point in time, they are not thinking rationally and will not be able to process what you are saying. Choose a time when your teen is sober and clear-headed.

3. Avoid emotional appeals

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence warns that emotional appeals, where parents try to get teens to see the pain and stress their cocaine abuse is causing family members, are not advised because they tend to backfire. Instead of getting kids to agree to enter a cocaine addiction treatment program, emotional appeals can come across as accusations and add to a teen's feelings of guilt or worthlessness, increasing the emotional burdens that can fuel adolescent cocaine abuse. Keep your conversation focused so it is a factual discussion.

4. Reassure your teen that the family will be there to support his or her recovery efforts

Entering treatment for cocaine addiction is a scary step. Teens are often afraid that they have damaged their familial relationships beyond repair, especially when they have lied, stolen, or otherwise betrayed family trust in the course of their addiction. The reassurance that loved ones will be there to help throughout the recovery process may give your teen the necessary courage to enter rehab.

5. Calm your teen's fears about withdrawal symptoms

Fear of living through the pains of withdrawal is one of the main reasons that teens are reluctant to seek treatment for cocaine addiction. Teens need to know that they will detox in a safe environment, where caring professionals will give them medications that will alleviate the pains of withdrawal. Reassuring teens that they will be cared for by dedicated personnel who will be on hand 24/7 to make sure they make it safely through the withdrawal process, can help give them the strength to enter treatment.

6. Seek professional testing

One of the questions parents often ask about adolescent cocaine abuse is, "should I drug test my teenager". The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against home drug testing of teens. Cocaine is only detectable in home tests for a short time after it is used. If your teen has an ongoing problem with cocaine abuse but has not used the drug in the past few days, home tests can deliver false negatives that will allow your child's drug use to continue unchecked. Cocaine addiction rehab centers have comprehensive drug testing methods at their disposal, such as testing hair, that yield more accurate results so your teen will get the help she or he needs.

If you are still concerned about confronting teen with cocaine addiction, rehab centers can provide valuable intervention help. They have caring personnel ready to help you, who are experienced at convincing teens of the need to seek treatment.