Comments on: Will Wooton: What if someone doesn’t want to be helped?

By: Terry

Terry — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 06:50:26 +0000

Trying to make our teen want to quick getting was the most difficult challenge our family has faced. EVER! Punishment, reward, flat out bribery, threats all failed in the beginning. Ultimately we had to quite pushing. That meant our kid was on the street. He had no more options. He was not born to be a street kid. We learned to rely on other parents of at risk kids who had survived these difficulties. WIll's group provided the resources and support we needed until we could get our kid in a program out of Poway. 6 years ago he wasn't sure he wanted to get sober but he know he couldn't survive on his own. If you think you have an issue in your home, do something. There may come a time when you need to say " we did absolutlely everything we could even though it was painful" BEst of luck to all and thanks Will!

By: ingrid

ingrid — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 05:42:08 +0000

I always thought that since I grew up in the seventies I'd be so much more savy and smarter about my own kid's using drugs. What never occured to me was that "knowing about " didn't mean I could stop it, or that my kid might be using stuff that wasn't around 35 years ago. It's a new ballgame. Kid's are not smoking a little pot and having a couple of beers, using visine and telling their parents that they're just tired. We live in a world where we're just glad to see our kids at home." Yay you're safe. You and Tommy go have fun in your room" and now I can go to bed. Little do you know that while you're sleeping your child has probably opened the window of his bedroom to let the pot smoke out and brought home a plethora of pills that him and Tommy will take hand over fist just to maintain some kind of high. It's a different world. Our kid's are faced with completely different challenges. Seriosly, if you suspect anything, take your teen to a professional. If you wait until they're adults, that "lead the horse to water" theory, doesn't work so much

By: Karen

Karen — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 22:23:41 +0000

I am so glad that you have this colum. What you have to say is so right on. Nine years ago when we were having problems with our son the last thing he wanted was for me to have any knowledge or information and defiantly not to talk to other parents. Keep writing and keeping us informed.

By: Laurie

Laurie — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 21:15:15 +0000

Excellent advice……need to keep getting the word out on alcohol and drugs and teens! And, someone brought up the fact the kids are getting younger and younger….try to teach your kids the "just say no" EARLY! Don't wait!!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 08:13:24 +0000

Great advise from one who knows. As I've been taught this journey to help is a marathon and not a sprint. Parents-support,strength,therapeutically guided boundary setting and stamina will get you where YOU must be if your child is ready now or later or God forbid never to take on addiction recovery.

By: Guest

Guest — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 05:10:46 +0000

Excellent – love the approach of showing them where their life "isn't going" as that's the reality many simply won't face.

By: Guest

Guest — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 05:07:32 +0000

I recommend you give Will a call as my son is alive today as a result of his program and I'm a better parent thanks to his support groups and other parents going thru the same things

By: Paula

Paula — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 03:53:51 +0000

Parents out there who know their children are using drugs…LISTEN to WILL ! His advice is priceless and you definitely have a better chance at saving your child if you trust in him! He is a professional …this is his expertise!
Teenagers smoking pot and using drugs are NOT exactly in the right frame of mind to make the decision for themselves if they need "help". They will not realize they need help until they are so deep into the throes of drug addiction that they can't help themselves… ..by themselves…..even if they want to!
Sometimes we don't see the light at the end of the tunnel until someone leads us to the light. Will can be your guide.
Thank you Will for all you do for our young people and their parents!

By: Dawn

Dawn — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 00:44:50 +0000

Our Family will always be grateful Will. I'm sending this article to a family member in Florida. You know your stuff and this disease is cunning

By: Tina

Tina — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 22:58:06 +0000

Neither one of my children wanted to be helped, they thought their lives were just fine. With the guidance of other parents who had a shared experience and a strong treatment program, they have learned that their lives were going nowhere. The belief that kids will be kids, or that they will work it out on their own, does not make sense when it comes to self destructive behavior and addiction. Both can cause such harm and stagnation in the growth and development of teens. It seems to me that if your strategy is to hope they come through it, you are gambling with your child's future.