Although many parents would like to think otherwise, it is extremely common for teenagers to experiment with drugs and alcohol. Therefore, you need to be prepared for the possibility that your teen could get into legal trouble, and you will also want to remain alert for any potential warning signs of a developing substance abuse problem.
Keep in mind that the reaction that you have to the topic of drugs will have a big impact on whether or not your teenager feels comfortable enough to be honest with you. In other words, you will need to carefully approach the subject without giving them a free pass to do whatever they want.
Teens Charged with Possession
Regardless of whether your teenager has an issue with drugs or was simply experimenting for the first time, you will need to give them your support if they get arrested for possession or underage drinking. After all, if they do not obtain experienced legal representation, they could end up dealing with the ramifications of their bad decision for the rest of their life. Therefore, you will need to put your anger at the situation aside and step up to protect them.
The best way to ensure that your teen makes it through the legal process with help is to hire an experienced juvenile criminal defense attorney. Your attorney should be knowledgeable and have a solid track record within your area. For example, look for a well-known juvenile defense attorney in Orlando when facing charges in that area due to their knowledge and reputation with local judges and prosecuting attorneys in the Orlando court systems. Sometimes, reputation can make a difference for first time juvenile offenders. In fact, if your lawyer builds the right defense, it is possible that your teenager will only need to deal with probation.
Tips for Discussing Drug Usage with Your Teen
1. Be Honest
It is always important to avoid saying something hypocritical when you are discussing drugs and drinking with your children. After all, if your teen has ever seen you drink, your argument against underage imbibing will be severely weakened if you simply use the defense of being a legal adult. Instead, you should consider telling your teenager a story that illustrates some of the consequences that you have faced in the past for drinking.
2. Stay Calm
It is easy to fly off the handle when your teenager is busted with drugs, but exploding at them is only going to make them want to retreat further into their own bubble. Instead, you should let them know that you understand the allure of experimenting with something new, but make sure that you also make it clear that doing something illegal is a really bad idea.
3. Discuss the Facts
Many teenagers believe that they could never end up addicted to drugs or alcohol. To dispel this myth, you should consider letting them see firsthand how awful drug abuse can be. For example, if you have a bad area of town where homeless drug addicts are known to congregate, you could drive them through that area so that they can see how many different types of people have ruined their lives with drugs.
As long as you are open with your teenager and encourage them to talk to you about drugs and alcohol, you should be able to help prevent them from ending up in legal trouble. However, if an issue still occurs, it is always best to hire a juvenile criminal defense attorney to help protect your teen’s future.
With 3 teens, Lisa Coleman understands the heartache that can accompany the teen years, such as bullying, peer pressure, and the curiosity of alcohol and drugs. She recently researched online at http://www.orlandocriminalteam.com/ about the difference hiring an experienced and well established juvenile attorney in a person’s local area can make for a case of a first time offender faced with possession charges, and how it can result in probation time only.
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