You are smart to get a jump on it now because if this kind of bad decision making is happening under supervision at home, the freedom of being away at college is a recipe for disaster. I’d be especially worried about the drug issue. It’s just too damn easy for kids to get sucked into the vortex of increasingly potent drugs. Get help. Cut off money supply to fund it. Limit opportunities to be with the known connections. Make it abundantly clear that any and all college planning is dependent on staying clean.

I think you’re doing the right thing. If drugs continue to be a problem, I’d start looking at in-patient rehabs in lieu of college.

Do you know what brought about this change? New friend group, traumatic event...?

I don’t want to be too specific, but how have people dealt with significant teen problems that are peaking this time in senior year. Talking about a solid student with pretty good behavior, who, over six months has become involved with drugs, slipping grades (not in danger of failing - yet), and a general change in attitude. It’s really hard when they are pretty much out the door in less than six months. We are cracking down on studying and are drug testing. Plus, we are getting him into therapy.

On the one hand, it seems odd to just continue forward with college plans. On the other hand, we can’t think of much alternative. We have said that any further backslides will result in a self supported gap year - at minimum.