Troubled Teens Resources

Teen crisis intervention isn’t just a one time program or a few seminars. It is an ongoing process for parents with teenagers. It not only entails parents developing preventative measures against teen drug abuse but also requires them to be continually pro-active in their efforts to keep their teens from straying.

By pro-active I mean that the drug scene is constantly changing and parents will want to be cognizant of new drugs coming into their city, or new ways that teens are devising to obtain drugs online. Parents have to be one step ahead of their teens at all times. And that is a pretty tall order.

We keep seeing mention of the drug Salvia. It’s not a new drug, but by so many recent media references, it appears as if it may be becoming new and interesting to teens. It’s been mentioned in reports out of Texas and also out of some Northeastern states. This report is out of California.

“Salvia is an herb that is perfectly legal in California and is the drug of choice for some teens that use it to get high. The herb comes from Mexico where it is used as a spiritual herb for enlightenment.
[…]
Salvia was used by the Aztec Indians for spiritual ceremonies. When used as a drug, the plant leaves are dried and smoked by the user. Only a few leaves are needed for a hallucinogenic effect.

The product is sold over the internet which is how most teens are able to purchase it. Smoke shops will not sell Salvia to minors…. Users claim Salvia can lead to uncontrolled laughter or dreamy almost sleepwalking-type of behavior. The effects can last from five minutes to two hours.”

(source)

Teen crisis interventions would certainly not have become the norm if parents , over the years, had not slowly abdicated their power and authority over their own kids. Be it the result of misguided theories espoused by “progressive parenting” pundits or simply by falling for the erroneous teaching that advocates treating children as if they were too fragile for criticism and discipline, parents have become a door mat that their teens carelessly walk on daily.

If you recognize the problem in your own immediate circle of parents, schedule a workshop with Dr. Janet Edgette, “an American psychologist who specializes in adolescent and family counselling.” Be pro-active and take any problems that teens are presenting in your community and tackle it.

“Heather Parker, executive director of AMCAL Family Services, said her organization is constantly “searching for people who have written on the topic of dealing with youth, and parents’ difficulties with youth.

“I knew [Edgette] had written a book [Stop Negotiating with Your Teen: Strategies for Parenting Your Angry, Moody, Manipulative, or Depressed Adolescent] within the last year or so, and when I contacted her she said she does a workshop… And she agreed to come up,” Parker said.”

Edgette counsels parents to take back their ground and assert the authority that teens absolutely need to see expressed in their lives.

“Some of the things [Edgette] is going to be talking about, I think, is very relevant to families… “Most parents we see here have lost their authority as parents. Kids basically don’t listen, do what they want, and are running the household. So she’s really going to give parents some strategies on how to regain control again,” she said. “Especially for those who feel they are being held hostage in their own home by some angry teenager.”

Parker said a major issue AMCAL social workers and therapists encounter is parents seem to have “abdicated” their authoritative role.”
(Source)