thing to do is to try and remain calm. Confronting a teenager when you are angry
can make the situation much worse. The initial conversation you have with your
child regarding substance abuse needs to be built around love and concern, not
contempt.
Before taking action, think about what you’re going to say and what you’re going
to do. Gather information and seek out the support and help of those who have
experience dealing with substance abuse issues in teens and families. Below
are some resources we’ve found to be particularly helpful (this is not a
comprehensive list and we are continually looking to add to it) :
Local Resources
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse – St. Louis
Website: http://www.ncada-stl.org
Phone: (314) 962-3456
The NCADA is a local non-profit organization that specializes in issues related to
alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. They have a wealth of resources available
both online and at their two locations. The NCADA also has a Help Line
(314-962-3456) that you can call to speak with a knowledgeable professional
who will answer questions you may have regarding substance abuse issues.
In addition, the NCADA offers Chemical Dependency Assessments. This is a
very useful and important service for parents who have recently discovered
possible drug involvement by their teenager. A substance abuse counselor will
sit down with an adolescent (or adult) to determine the extent of their drug and/or
alcohol problem and make recommendations for further action(s).
This is a very impressive organization and we highly recommend them as a first
point of contact for parents in the St. Louis area seeking guidance in dealing with
substance abuse by their teen.
ACT-Missouri
http://www.actmissouri.org
Phone: (877) 669-2280
ACT Missouri is committed to empowering individuals, teams, grass-roots
organizations, schools, and corporations in their efforts to strengthen
communities where children can thrive. Specifically, ACT Missouri focuses on
the following areas of service and support customized to meet your specific
substance prevention needs: Prevention leadership, capacity building, and
community coordination; Public policy and advocacy support and training;
Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery education and awareness; Strategy
development for community wellness; Volunteer development, management,
and mobilization; Strategic, tactical, and sustainability planning and
implementation.
Assisted Recovery Centers of America (ARCA)
http://www.arcamidwest.com
24-Hour Help Line: (314) 645-6840
ARCA treats those with alcoholism and drug addiction by integrating FDA
approved anti-craving medications with counseling. Their program helps men
and women of all ages overcome their addictions so they can return to
normalcy. ARCA’s team of medical professionals provides treatment on an
outpatient basis to give clients the extra support they need.
LOGOS School
http://www.logosschool.org
Phone: (314) 997-7002
Providing Alternatives for Adolescents and Choices for Parents. Logos School is
an independent, alternative, therapeutic middle and high school in St. Louis.
They are dedicated to assisting students and their families with academic and
emotional needs which have not been met in the traditional classroom.
Narcotics Anonymous
http://www.showmerso.org
24-Hour Help Line: (314) 830-3232
Narcotics Anonymous is a nonprofit fellowship or society of men and women for
whom drugs had become a major problem. They are recovering addicts who
meet regularly to help one another stay clean.
Nar-Anon
http://www.nar-anon.org/missouri.htm
Phone: (314) 994-5951
Nar-Anon members are relatives and friends who are concerned about the
addiction or drug problem of another. Nar-Anon’s program of recovery is
adapted from Narcotics Anonymous and uses Nar-Anon's Twelve Steps, Twelve
Traditions, and Twelve Concepts.
National / Web-based Resources
There are a number of organizations that maintain websites that provide a
wealth of information for those dealing with substance abuse by teenagers.
These sites have features such as conversation starters for talking with teens
about drug use, articles, newsletters, help lines, databases of treatment
facilities, message boards, and more. Below are a few of the sites we’ve found
to be particularly helpful to parents:
Office of National Drug Control Policy
Parents. The Anti-Drug.
URL: http://www.theantidrug.com
The Partnership for a Drug-Free America
Partnering With Families
URL: http://www.drugfree.org/Parent
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
A Family Guide To Keeping Youth Mentally Healthy and Drug Free
URL: http://family.samhsa.gov/
SAMHSA
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI)
URL: http://www.health.org/
Al-Anon / Alateen Family Group
URL: http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/english.html
Local phone: 314-645-1572