I have a similar thread in the Parenting forum. But anyways, my 13 year old grandson recently has become addicted to methamphetamine. He told me not to tell his parents he had used the drug and that he would seek help with the counselor they are trying to get him, so long as he kept it confidential also. He basically told me that he has been doing methamphetamine every day for the last month and it has become his "fresh breath of air" (as he called it). My question is: what to do?? I spend time with him as much as I can, as well as his family does. Could all the attention be depressing him, causing him to turn to meth? I asked him how he got it but he just told me he has ways. He still has imaginary friends, and I don't know if things have changed but when I grew up, an imaginary friend after age 7 was just weird. Ever since his dad found marijuana in his room a week and a half ago (around), he has monitored him constantly. My grandson told me he hasn't smoked pot or meth since his dad found his stash, but says only because he's afraid of getting drug tested. Stumped. Advice?
I wouldn't mess around with it. Make sure he gets help. He might "hate you" for a time but it could save his life. How would you feel if he died and you knew about it?
ClosingTide, I'm going to school to deal with teens and young adults with drug/alcohol abuse problems. I'd like to become an intervention specialist. That's beside the point though. My advice to you is to keep spending time with your grandson, and make sure that help is given to him. Support him, and just be there. He's only 13, and has so much life to live, making bad choices at such a pivotal age could affect him later in life if something isn't totally done to help fix the problem. Do his parents have any clue that he may be using meth? If not, maybe you should drop a slight hint, or tell them flat out.. just since they are the parents, they can get a grasp on the situation before it spins out of control, which... with any drug, it has the potential to do. Yes, your grandson may be angry with you for telling his parents, but when he is older he will be grateful to you, and his parents for helping. It's better to catch it early. It's good that your grandson feels he can confide in you, and spends time with you. But... he's 13, and you've got to do whats best for him. Good luck. Let us know how things turn out.
I know people of around the same age who grew out of it. and i know twice as many who didn't. i wouldn't take any chances... this shit will fuck up his entire life. and this is coming from a former coke head.
"Speed", by William S. Burroughs, gives a good picture of speed-freaks and the meth world......if your grandson read that book maybe he will understand what kind of future he will have if he keeps going on methedrine...
yeah, don't mess around with it. talk to his parents about it. tell them what you know, and your concerns. it might help though, if you told them not to mention the fact that they found out from you. they could say they found out through other scources, so he will keep confiding in you. i know it sounds manipulative, but at 13, don't take the chance that he will fix this problem himself. as far as imaginary friends go, nothing has changed. i don't know if that is drug-related or not. the pot wouldn't be causing it, but maybe the methamphetamine is, you'll have to ask someone more knowledgable. but, in what context does he beleive in these imaginary friends? anyway, don't stop spending time with him. if you do, he has all the more chances to do whatever he wants.
the real question is though, is he exaggerating? because a decent meth habit is fairly expensive to support. you mostly see it in young girls with older boy friends. guys... well not so often.
Not really. Ice is actually pretty cheap. I was a user ages 17 to 25, we call it poor mans cocaine here in Oahu because it is cheap and easily available. $40 can get a good high, and I know it's cheaper in mainland U.S. If the kids got a decent paying job it's not hard to obtain. Not to mention his friends could get it and get high together.
i agree kinda with spooner, not to reduce the harm of drugs, but a lot of teens just want to know what its all about. i tried something once, dont even know what it was, and never done it since because i simply dont want to. maybe your grandson is friends with people in that crowd so he feels pressured to keep up with the drugs to fit in. if it is however a bigger problem than just 'being kids,' then id say definitly get him help. tell who you have to tell; this is a family members LIFE.
