I'm a grandma and I'm trying to stop my grandkids from becoming addicts. I know they are using drugs because I've found painkiller in their pockets and I know they are getting high because I've seen all the signs on them lots of times. However when I mention it to them they deny it or find excuses. Those are the drugs that I know of and I'm scared to think of all the other drugs they could be using. And what scares me more is I really dont know how to stop them.

try regularly drug testing them. My friends parents did that to him and that stopped him.

grannie28 said: I'm a grandma and I'm trying to stop my grandkids from becoming addicts. I know they are using drugs because I've found painkiller in their pockets and I know they are getting high because I've seen all the signs on them lots of times. However when I mention it to them they deny it or find excuses. Those are the drugs that I know of and I'm scared to think of all the other drugs they could be using. And what scares me more is I really dont know how to stop them.

It seems that many people are afraid to show some tough love to their kids and grandkids. If you have a feeling that they are doing drugs, and they are not opening up to you, maybe it's time to ship them to rehab. So many people think that that is harsh, but if your grandkids are minors then you (if have the legal right to) or their parents have every right to get them that kind of help.

Uh... tell your own kids, their parents?

Besides, finding painkillers, everyone takes painkillers for every little ache these days, that's hardly something, and my mum thinks I'm high on drugs cause my eyes are always bloodshot. I know your worried but you should really tell their parents.

do you spend time with them? Get very very involved in their lives. But dont do it in a boring way, do things they like. I took my grandkids on a cruise we had a blast. Go to the movies with them, but dont go to the ones that their friends go to, they tend to get embarassed, take them out to dinner spoil them. I've realised the more that parents and grandparents are involved in a teens lives the less they think about drugs

It seems liek there may be a different situation with their parents, because why are you taking care of them?  If their parents are on drugs or divorced, then the chances of them doing drugs sadly increases.  When my parents got divorced, I went to live with my mom and she was basically an absent mom because she had to work so much, it's like no one was there to raise me.  So eventually I turned to drugs and alcohol and it seemed normal to me.  Now, thankfully I'm recovered but now that my parents are a lot more civilized than they used to act, I can finally have some support!

I would unexpectedly drug test them if I were you. Then if you see they are abusing drugs, thats when its time to take action and do something about it. Its okay to worry ofcourse, but all you could do when your worried with no proof is just getting really involved with their lives. Maybe if you catch them and totally scare them, threaten to kick them out (but dont really do it), ground them for a really long time. Even school for like 2 days (thats when my mom scared me the most). Do whatever it takes to stop them Also be aware of what friends they hang out with because that place a big role.

Do you think it is okay to kick your children out when they are addicted to something (alcohol to gaming)? I know of so many kids that rip their parents off and steal their things to sell for drug money. Is this okay? What should parents do to make sure their children are safe and so are their belongings?

What if they have nowhere else to go?  I don't think a parent should ever kick out their daughter.  If a guy gets kicked out, he can just go crash at a friends house for a few nights.  But girls are different, they can get picked up so easily by any stranger and wind up in prostitution or raped and killed.

ThaGrouch said: What if they have nowhere else to go?  I don't think a parent should ever kick out their daughter.  If a guy gets kicked out, he can just go crash at a friends house for a few nights.  But girls are different, they can get picked up so easily by any stranger and wind up in prostitution or raped and killed.

I had a friend whos mom threatened to kick her out so much. After a while she felt unwanted. She was 17 and started dating a 28 year old, he got put in jail and she waited 5 months till he got out and by that time she was 18 and she moved in with him right away. Her mom wants her back home but she feels like she'd lose so much if she went back after everything. Her relationship with him is terrible now and she doesn't feel any love at all. She's miserable all the time but she feels as if shes stuck. He takes care of her and she thinks thats what she needs.

I think that doing a mutual activity together can always put the child and parent in a better perspective.. when I was younger and I'd get in fights with my parents, there would be so much tension in the house.  My mom would always get sick of it and have the whole family go do something together.  At fist I would just sit there so pissed off, even my dad, but you have to learn how to get over things and figure things out as a family.  If your son/daughter is doing something stupid and developing a drug problem, or getting involved in illegal activities, I think you have to really step it up as a parent and put you foot down to get control over them.  Kicking them out shouldn't be an option, that's the easy way out of things.  Then they're going to learn that it's okay to just not deal with a situation. 

I don't believe a parent should ever kick their kids out. They brought them into this world and they're responsible for them for life, during the good and the bad. I agree that doing things as a family helps a lot. My family and I used to travel a lot. And I really think that was a major thing of why I wouldn't do drugs. I spent too much time with my family and they would notice. Also I didn't feel the need to. People do it for entertainment, I was well entertained. I tried a few drugs and I think that was more than enough to last me a life time. I know what people are talking about when they talk about being high, I've felt it, but since I already know what it feels like why bring my self down and focus my life around it? That was more than enough. But I do owe a lot of it to my family.

I was addicted to pain killers. These drugs are opiates and are the HARDEST to withdrawal from and the withdrawal alone can kill. I don't know if your grandkids are at that stage but it is nothing to mess with. There is lots of help out there and if they can't stop there is even a medicine called suboxone to help them stop. (I have been on it for 2 years). Your grandkids are probably not that bad off but they will get there if they don't slow down. I got addicted in no time and they physical pain of not having anything to take is awful. Here are some ways to tell if they are high. Pain pills make your pupils really tiny. Some people get sleepy and nod off when sitting down or being still. Sudden change of moods, a more relaxed state. The withdrawals are also easy to spot. You have a cold sweat and get hot and cold flashes. Your legs and lower back hurt the worst and you get restless leg syndrome. You can't sit still and loose sleep. Pain pills cause constipation but when in withdrawal you get diarrhea. I read a post where someone said to never kick your kids out. My mom kicked me out and it saved my life. It just depends on the situation. Do not be an enabler. Don't give them money and always ask for receipts (check time and date on them) if you do. Pop a drug test on them if you need proof. And don't be afraid to send them to rehab or counseling. Be nice to them but be stern in your decisions. Knowledge is power so study up! This is a life threatening illness (not like cancer but it still kills). Your kids may not be addicts but don't wait till they are. There are so many ways to get help for them. If they won't listen to you, find someone who will make them listen. (A councilor, or addiction specialist) I wish you all the best of luck!