Tag: drug

I’d like to be able to tell you that teens don’t use drugs. Unfortunately, that’s not true. I wish I could assure you that tweens—kids ages 9 to 12—wouldn’t think of using drugs. But I’d be lying.

In my practice, I see tweens every day who are experimenting with alcohol and drugs, always without their parents’ knowledge. It’s not uncommon for tweens to first try drugs in middle school. Even if they don’t become hardcore users, just this short exposure can have dire consequences for the rest of your child’s life.

You're five years old. Your mother sends you to your room because you pulled the cat's tail. "It's not fair," you cry out. "Johnny pulled the cat's tail too and he didn't have to go to his room!" Your mother pays no attention to your protestations and off you go, teary and miserable. You curl up in a ball on your bed and feel horrible, sad and sorry for yourself.

You're 15 years old. The principal gives you detention for smoking in the bathroom. "It's not fair," you cry out. "John was smoking too, you just didn't see it and he didn't get detention!" The principal pays no attention to your protestations, and off you go feeling wronged.