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Olean High School-Counseling Office
The newspapers print articles daily relating to the increasing drug and alcohol usage in our communities. The adolescents and young adults are particularly vulnerable given the stressors and pressures that they are coping with on a daily basis. Occasionally we see students in the school setting that are struggling with grades or social relationships and find that there could be an underlying drug or alcohol use problem. Many students deny abusing drugs or alcohol and will attempt to minimize the problem. We have outlined a few suggestions here if you suspect that your child is abusing drugs or alcohol.
What can I do to help my child?
Open up a dialogue with your child as soon as you suspect a drug or alcohol use problem. Don’t wait for your child to “hit bottom” before intervening. Prepare yourself for denial, lying or excuses for their recent behaviors. Speak with your child about any underlying issues troubling them.
Set reasonable rules with consequences that you can enforce. Make sure that both parents are in agreement and supportive of the plan.
Monitor your child’s activities and who he or she is hanging out with. Check hiding areas for drugs and alcohol in bedrooms, backpacks, etc.
Try to get your child involved in healthy activities as a replacement for their poor choices. Encourage healthy social relationships.
Take care of yourself and don’t neglect your own healthy needs. Find confidential people that you can talk to for support.
If your child is rebelling against your efforts to help them, seek help from a professional. Your family doctor, a therapist or drug and alcohol counselor are your best resources.
Contact the Council on Addiction Recovery Services, INC. (CAReS), in Olean, at 716-373-4303.
Information gathered from HELPGUIDE.ORG- a non-profit guide to mental health and well-being
