If your teen is caught in an addiction - Hold an intervention! Do it immediately! Contact up to a dozen people who care about your child; people your kid likes and respects; people who care about people. Include friends, relatives, pastors, teachers, people who have successfully rehabilitated, and people who's lives were touched by people who's lives were ruined by addictions. Get together with at least three of these people, yourselves, and the teen or young adult who is struggling with addiction.

Set aside two or more hours to discuss the known problem (addiction), get to the core issues that increase the dependency, (things they can't accept about their lives), get the message to your child as to why, (or how) this addiction is bad for them, and set up a plan to get them free from the slavery of whatever it is they are addicted to. Set up a follow up date.

Be aware that you may not immediately see the results you were hoping for. Be careful not to drive your teen away with demands that they may feel incapable of fulfilling. Promise to be there for them emotionally, physically, and morally. But Do Not make Empty Promises! Make only those promises you intend to keep! If you feel like you can't do it alone - don't - get help. It is OK to get professional help. It it OK to get help from church members, club members, schools...

Remember, that many addictions are physical, as well as psychological. Your kid may need to get help from a medical or psychological professional. Be ready to accept some responsibility - but realize that it is ultimately up to them to change... They must learn to be responsible to, and for themselves.

It will take time, effort, tears, and failures to achieve success. Be aware that you will learn some things you won't like. For example, you may learn that they are angry about something you said or did. Kids who are addicted may have genetic inclinations for addictions, or may have learned addictive behavior from someone close to them. Be willing to change yourself. Be willing to take drastic measures if necessary. Be aware that addiction can lead to suicide. That suicide by others can lead to addiction, and that you may not succeed. But try, try, and try again. The difference between success and failure is simply refusing to give up. If you fail this time - do it again - take a different approach - talk to others who have succeeded. repeat.

Do not accept failure. Keep fighting for your child. Keep praying. Keep going. Do not blame yourself, your spouse (current or ex)your child, or anyone else. It doesn't help. Blame only increases hurt and anger. Focus on the positive as much as possible. Most of all - Do not close the door. Do not give up. There is hope! People conquer addictions. Those people often help others conquer addictions. repeat.

Learn more about this author, Elizabeth Mckibben.
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