Question:
My teenage step-daughter was just suspended from school. She was caught drinking at lunch time. She just found out that her mom might be moving to England and she is marrying a man she just met. I think my step-daughter may be acting out from all the pressure and feelings she has about her mom...HELP I don't know what to do as a consequence.Answer:
ParentingTeensOnline expert, Stephen Wallace, fields questions about drugs and alcohol. Stephen Wallace is the Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), and has served as school psychologist, camp director, and college professor. You can read more about him on SADD's site. Stephen answers:
Young people say they drink alcohol for many of the same reasons that adults do, including to self-medicate when feeling stressed, sad, or depressed. So, it may well be the case that your step-daughter is turning to alcohol to feel better about the turn of events regarding her mother. Attempting to ascertain the true motivations behind her behavior is important so that they can be addressed more appropriately - and constructively. Surely, there must be consequences as well. Her suspension from school is certainly a big one. Additional ones you might consider would be a loss of privileges (say driving if she has a license, or some other activity she enjoys) and using the period of suspension to learn more about the detrimental effects of alcohol on youth (perhaps doing some onlinie research and writing a paper). Finally, having her screened for substance abuse problems by a physician or mental health professional can't hurt.