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substance abuse in your family > children and teens > special stuff for teens

                                                            JUST FOR TEENS: IT'S MY LIFE

If you’re checking out this site, chances are you are concerned about the way your parent uses alcohol or other drugs.  You’re not alone.  There are millions of others just like you…

Jessica is a high school junior with a mother who is an alcoholic.  Jessica lives with her dad now in New Jersey.  Jessica shared with us this essay about her mom she wrote for a creative writing class. Read Jessica’s essay.

Maybe you’re thinking “Wow.”  Or maybe you’re thinking “So what – that’s just like my life.”  Or maybe somewhere in between. 

Click on the situations below to see how other kids like you have experienced a parent’s drug or alcohol use:

• Romantic relationships

• Getting an after-school job

• Keeping the house together

• Keeping on top of school work

• Having fun

• I'm not going to be like that!

As we said, there are lots of kids out there with parents who have problems with alcohol or other drugs.  And like Jessica, they are dealing with a lot of complicated things:

• Taking care of brothers and sisters, and even parents

• Not being able to invite friends over, because a parent may embarrass them

• Always on the lookout for situations when things might get violent or out of hand

• Knowing that promises made are likely to be promises broken

• Not knowing if mom or dad is going to make it home safely

• Having a whole bunch of different emotions all at the same time - confusion, anger, sadness, loneliness, fear, anxiety and of course, love