Parents in Denial Over Drug Use

Denial can be a coping strategy when reality seems alarmingly difficult. If adolescents use drugs, parents may engage in denial to protect themselves from dealing with the undesired situation. As tempting as it may be to hide behind this façade, denying a substance abuse problem may put your child at greater risk of negative consequences.

  1. Looking the Other Way

    • As a teenager goes about his activities, it may feel easier to look the other way or resist examining behaviors too closely. It might be tempting to distract yourself with work or other issues, so you don̵7;t have the time to monitor your child̵7;s activities and behaviors. While chaperoning gatherings and remaining vigilant about activities is challenging, you have this responsibility, advises an article published in the ̶0;Helping Hand̶1; newsletter.

    Denying Clues

    • When a child is engaging in substance abuse, it̵7;s likely that she will leave behind an unintended clue or two along the way. You may receive telephone calls from the school or have friends or neighbors who imply substance problems. You might discover evidence of drug use, such as finding paraphernalia or smelling suspicious odors. Your teen̵7;s behavior and appearance could change drastically, which might indicate a problem. Even when clues surface, a parent in denial may overlook them or rationalize them to enable the continued denial, advises author Karen Franklin, with the DrugFree.org website. The mindset involved in this denial could be the ̶0;not my teenager̶1; belief with parents refusing to believe that their child could engage in these activities.

    Believing Lies

    • If a situation occurs in which a parent catches a teenager engaging in substance use, the teenager is likely to lie to cover the actions. It can feel comforting to hear a lie when you don̵7;t want to believe the truth, so the tendency for the parent in denial is to believe a child̵7;s lies.

    Facing the Truth

    • A child with a substance problem is likely frightening and threatening to parents, advises psychologist Carl Pickhardt. As long as parents engage in denial, they are effectively protecting the problem and preventing resolution and healing from occurring. Eventually, evidence and associated problems mount to the point where desperate parents have no choice but to admit a child has a problem. This turning point requires strong courage for the parents, but it opens the door to recovery for the family.

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