Teen boy trying LSD

[Anonymous]

Our teen boy is trying to set up an acid trip with his friends. He downloaded Snapchat on my iPad and I was reading his conversations this morning. He very clearly states his intentions to “cop” some acid and do the drug at a sleepover this weekend.

Over the past year we have caught him with nicotine vape, thc vape, and actual marijuana. Our usual response is grounding, lecturing and taking away his phone. He hasn’t had his phone for several weeks now, so when he got ahold of my iPad he used it for snap chat....

What do I do at this point? Is it Outward Bound? 100% grounded with zero access to all electronic devices? Counseling?

We are very involved parents, educators, very middle class.

It feels like the end of the world. I hate this reductive parenting. He is just turning 15 years old. Please advise-

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry. It sounds very scary. My oldest is only 11 so we aren’t down that road yet. But I wanted to offer my sympathy. Parenting is incredibly hard. I’m not sure what the right answer is, but I’m guessing all the punishments aren’t truly working. And if you can get him to counseling then that would help. Maybe he’s self medicating for some reason.

[Anonymous]

Obviously therapy. But, LSD is not addictive. So you should probably be more worried about smoking cigarettes and alcohol.

[Anonymous]

I don't want to minimize the problem, but I can tell you that many people who were curious about lsd felt like I did.

It was fun, interesting (one of my best memories, in fact) but it did not represent unhappiness with my life or a shift to harder and more addictive drugs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't want to minimize the problem, but I can tell you that many people who were curious about lsd felt like I did.

It was fun, interesting (one of my best memories, in fact) but it did not represent unhappiness with my life or a shift to harder and more addictive drugs.

Op here - same here. I did it several times in my teens - on weekends with friends in generally safe situations.

But does that mean I can just let this go/ignore these texts and let him go on his sleep over ?

Dad also saw the texts and most certainly will not abide...

[Anonymous]

Well apparently grounding him isnt working since he keeps doing the behavior you’re trying to stop. So more grounding isn’t t likely to change anything at all. In some ways you don’t seem sure that you believe there is a problem. I think you have to decide what you want to accomplish before you decide a strategy. If it’s to prevent LSD use this weekend then don’t let him go it the party. If it’s to eliminate substance abuse then probably something closer to outward bound than counseling.

[Anonymous]

New friends.

[Anonymous]

OP here- I think he needs 1) to know we are watching 2) to know we care and 3) to develop coping strategies that don’t involve drugs.

As he is making these plans using plain English (not coded teen speak) using my device tells me he might be seeking attention and/or help. But I am not a therapist and this is an ongoing problem (he is not good at concealing his abuse) it tells me he may be reaching out for help of some kind.

I appreciate all your feedback- thanks

[Anonymous]

Don't let him go this weekend and tell him you know about his drug plans. I would also stop any sleepovers for the immediate future. I am a 51 year old woman and never tried LSD, or any drug, and this terrifies me. Maybe that makes me square or a nerd but I would be beside myself if my ds was usiing weed and graduating to harder core drugs. Good luck OP.

[Anonymous]

I have a 14 year old son who was going down a similar path. He is now at a wilderness program and I can say it’s the best thing we have done for him. Outpatient therapy, taking away privileges, talking and educating did nothing. It’s a drastic and very expensive intervention but my son is like a different person than before he went.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Obviously therapy. But, LSD is not addictive. So you should probably be more worried about smoking cigarettes and alcohol.

I guess I’m old school. But smoking and drinking has been tried and true for hundreds of years and was what the upper classes did before anti anxiety drugs were more prevalent. Dropping acid seems a lot scarier to me.

[Anonymous]

I don’t have any advice op, but I agree with your concern. Trying LSD is a big deal though and not ok like some posters say. My husband knew a kid growing up that was dosed unknowingly and he killed himself. I hope you find something that works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 14 year old son who was going down a similar path. He is now at a wilderness program and I can say it’s the best thing we have done for him. Outpatient therapy, taking away privileges, talking and educating did nothing. It’s a drastic and very expensive intervention but my son is like a different person than before he went.

for teen drug experimentation that is still well within the range of normal? wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Obviously therapy. But, LSD is not addictive. So you should probably be more worried about smoking cigarettes and alcohol.

I guess I’m old school. But smoking and drinking has been tried and true for hundreds of years and was what the upper classes did before anti anxiety drugs were more prevalent. Dropping acid seems a lot scarier to me.

Cigarettes and booze kill so many more people - there's no comparison. LSD is not addictive and is generally something people do once or twice. I would still be concerned and want to know what's going on, but engaging in Reefer Madness type hysteria is not useful.

[Anonymous]

Does he go to a W school.

While I find all schools have vaping/alcohol/marijuana issues.

Lots of acid at W schools and rehoboth/Bethany.