Child is using drugs, lying and stealing- need rec for IOP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stories like this make me feel glad I don't have kids.

Then why are you reading a tween thread on a parenting website?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stories like this make me feel glad I don't have kids.

Then why are you reading a tween thread on a parenting website?

+1. If this is what “fun” looks like for singles/DINKs, I’m glad I’m not one!

[Anonymous]

Hey OP, how is your son doing? My son is a bit older, but on the same path. What steps did you take? Are things any better?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stories like this make me feel glad I don't have kids.

Then get off the parents board. Geez...

[Anonymous]

He's doing opiates with his friends and you are thinking of some local outpatient? Yea...

This is beyond that. This calls for a drastic change in location and routine and friends.

[Anonymous]

He's not going to school and he is 14? What does the school say about his truancy--they don't usually put up with that.

[Anonymous]

People I know who went to military school got to live in dormitories with other borderline juvenile delinquents. Their behavior generally got worse, as they learned new criminal behaviors from their new friends.

Trump was sent to military school. Case in point.

[Anonymous]

Check out Potomac pathways locally.

[Anonymous]

Op I used to work with kids like your son. I think your instincts are correct that he should not be sent to military school but you need to swallow your pride/ego/fear/money concerns and send him to an inpatient facility. It is the only thing that has a shot at working. Outpatient is a follow up to inpatient; if you skip impatient you're literally throwing money down the drain. It will not work as a standalone.

[Anonymous]

Hey-- just keep being involved in your child's life and keep trying things until you get results. Ashley treatment Center in Havre De Grace has a great reputation in the recovery community and I believe they treat teens. I got clean and sober at a young age (not 14 although I know people with over 15 years sobriety since age 14 and a couple since 16). Part of what helped is I felt the consequences of my addiction and I became ready for something better. Not a simple process.

Best wishes.

[Anonymous]

I am having similar issues with my 15 year old son and we have made the very difficult decision to send him to a wilderness program. In my opinion, military schools are the worst thing for a kid who is probably struggling with an underlying mental health disorder. Wilderness programs are very difficult but there is a huge therapeutic component and I have heard many success stories. There does have to be aftercare after wilderness whether that is a change in school or therapeutic boarding school. I have talked to several people with 17 year olds who said they wish they had intervened earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am having similar issues with my 15 year old son and we have made the very difficult decision to send him to a wilderness program. In my opinion, military schools are the worst thing for a kid who is probably struggling with an underlying mental health disorder. Wilderness programs are very difficult but there is a huge therapeutic component and I have heard many success stories. There does have to be aftercare after wilderness whether that is a change in school or therapeutic boarding school. I have talked to several people with 17 year olds who said they wish they had intervened earlier.

My 16 year old was discharged from a wilderness program about five weeks ago. Sending him was the best decision we made. It saved his life. Good luck to you and your family, PP.

[Anonymous]

Thank you. So happy to hear this message. This decision is so painful and terrifying. Just curious — did he return home or go to a therapeutic boarding school? I’m hearing that majority of kids do not return home and usually go on to boarding school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you. So happy to hear this message. This decision is so painful and terrifying. Just curious — did he return home or go to a therapeutic boarding school? I’m hearing that majority of kids do not return home and usually go on to boarding school.

Home with online schooling. It isn’t easy, trust me. But it saved his life and we are on a better path and are hopeful. One thing in our case is that the issues were mental illness and behavioral. Drugs (except for overdoses) and bad friends weren’t part of the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He's not going to school and he is 14? What does the school say about his truancy--they don't usually put up with that.

Schools have no idea what to do with kids with mental illness who refuse school. If you push, they would be obligated to provide services that are really expensive. So they turn a blind eye.