How would you deal with this

[springisaroundthecorner]

DS (just 16). Left school 3 weeks ago. Coming home very late every night. We ask he is back before dark. On Wednesday night he didn't come home until 8:30 the next morning. I went out to get him at 1:30 am and he just ignored me and walked off. I was on my own on foot, no car and he just left me.
He frequently goes to a bad area to see his friend, who lives and works in a shop there. Told him not to go there as it's a crime hotspot but it continues.
I am now sat here worrying at 11:20 p.m because he's in the local park and late again.
He keeps getting up late (noon ) and is missing all his regular sport activities.
I feel like locking him out ! Really angry

If I didn't think drugs were an issue, I'd leave him to find his feet. Does he have plans, going back to college etc?

Sit down and talk to him calmly. Listen to his view on things and try and meet him in the middle somewhere. At this age you have to rely on reason and making him see why he needs to make better choices.

Please don't lock him out. He's getting older now and he wants his independence. If he knows he has a safe warm home to come back to then he will. If you give him no other options then God knows what will happen to him.

Also, when you talk to him be honest about why you need him to do this, it's about your feelings. Being home 'before dark' is arbitrary really in terms of safety, it's about you feeling happier, not any objective benefit to him of being in 'before dark'.

Locking him out or threatening to, punishing him in any way will push him away. Try to collaborate with him, let him know you're there for him, give him some space and be kind. Yes he's pushing it and you're worried sick, but this is the time to dig in a the hard work and support him as he makes his own way rather than start laying the law down which will push him further out.