A mother is worried her son could be doing drugs – but she doesn’t know how to confront him about it. 

She told Parenting on Moncrieff her 17-year-old son has been going to parties typically twice a week during the summer. 

“I don't mind because he's young, and he should be having fun,” she said. 

“However, recently, I found a small clear bag in his trouser pocket when I was doing the washing - a bag I can only imagine contained drugs of some sort. 

“There was a small amount of white speckles in the bag, but I can't be 100% sure if what the substance was.” 

She said her son’s behaviour hasn’t seemed concerning, except for acting “buzzed” after a few drinks. 

“He's honest about consuming alcohol, and we have an agreement with this,” she said. “But should I be worried that he's pushing boundaries and consuming other substances?” 

Family psychotherapist Joanna Fortune said the mother should “build on” the clear communication she already has with her son. 

She suggested starting the conversation about drugs in the car, so it’s not as intense as a sit-down conversation – and her son can’t leave. 

“Just really check in with yourself and make sure that you know what it is you want to say and what it is you want to find out from the conversation,” she said. 

“Just simply say, ‘I found a small plastic bag in the pocket of your trousers when I was doing the laundry - the story I'm telling myself is that it contained drugs because there was a white residue in it. Can you confirm what was in that bag?’ 

“If he says yes, we're now having a conversation about the use of Class A drugs. 

“You do need to sit down and talk about the legal ramifications, but also the health, physical, emotional, mental health ramifications of using drugs, how unsafe it is.” 

Using drugs

If her son says the powder was something like a “Dip Dab” or other sweets, the mother should ask if a drug test result would say the same. 

“Let him look at you in the eye and say yes or no to that because you're really talking about trust,” she said. 

“There is a trust-based relationship here. I would invest in that.” 

Go to drugs.ie for more information. 

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