16 yr old son and weed smoking friends

[Caselgarcia]

My son is 16, a good kid and is taking his GCSEs this year so I'm trying to keep him focused and happy. Last night we had a conversation about school and his friends which ended up with him in tears. He has a lovely group of friends at school, all basically good kids, but two or three of them seem to have gone off the rails recently smoking strong weed and getting drunk on vodka several times a week. He said they drink/smoke to get absolutely paralytic so they pass out and end up taking time off school. It's not the drinking cheap cider in the park and hanging out with your mates stuff. He's upset as he's losing his friends because he's not into 'sitting in a muddy field on a Friday night smoking weed until I'm sick'. I think also he can't understand why they do it, he's all for a laugh and joke, but is becoming disillusioned with them and is feeling out of the friendship group.
I've explained that sixth form/college will be different, he'll make new friends or possibly some of his existing friends will grow out of this behaviour, but he is upset about how it is now. He seems genuinely worried about a couple of them, but doesn't want me to raise it with school.

[Dancinggoat]

He needs to know friendships change and evolve and that it's fine to move on from a group. There's nothing he can do about the ones he's worried about if he doesn't want to talk to anyone.
Perhaps talk about chatting to others but still being friendly with the old lot. Apart from that there's not a huge amount you can do.

[specialsubject]

Dumping druggie saddos is an expression of his good taste, brains and understanding that you only get one go at school. Good for him.

People change and these kids are going through the stupid arse phase. Shame, but leave them to it. Plenty of people are worth his time, these useless dicks are not.

Parents should teach kids to think independently. Good on you. And him.

[EveryoneTalkAboutPopMusic]

I read your post earlier in the week but didn’t have time to reply. I think Dancing pretty much summed up what I would have said. How is he getting on now?