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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DS16 came home drunk at 5am

344 replies

Worriedsick89 · 22/07/2025 16:32

Sorry this is a ramble and probably makes no sense but I’ve had no sleep and I’m honestly shaken up. Just don’t know what to do anymore. Posting for traffic.

DS is 16. Went out last night around 8pm, said he was going to play football with a couple mates down the park. He doesn’t go out loads so I thought ok fine, bit of fresh air. Said he’d be back by 10ish.

By 11 I’m calling him – nothing. Texted – ignored. Called again about 12:30 – phone off. Kept checking out the front window like a mad woman. DP’s working away til the end of the week and he’s not even DS’s dad anyway, they don’t get on at all, DS won’t even be in the same room as him half the time. So I was on my own stressing all night. He doesn't live with us anyway.

I was this close to ringing 101 around 4:30am. Then just after 5 the front door opened and he staggered in.

He was out of it. I’ve never seen him like that. Completely gone – slurring, eyes weird, laughing at nothing, barely able to walk. He reeked of vodka and something else I couldn’t even place. Couldn’t focus on anything I was saying. He just kept going “I’m fine” then nearly falling over. I had to practically drag him upstairs, he could barely get his shoes off.

He’s been in bed all day. It’s nearly 5pm now. He’s got up a few times to throw up, looks pale as anything, sweaty, shaky, not really with it. He keeps saying he’s ok but he’s not. Not like any hangover I’ve ever seen.

As far as I know he’s never taken drugs before. Might’ve had a few drinks here and there but he’s never come home like this.

Bit of background – he’s been difficult for a long time. Got booted out of school in year 10 after refusing to go in for weeks. Was meant to do home ed but that was a total waste of time, he just refused point blank. Tried him at one of those 14+ colleges that takes early leavers, thought maybe something more hands-on would help – lasted about 3 or 4 weeks then got kicked out again for not turning up and mouthing off.

Now he’s at home 24/7. Sleeps all day, up all night online. He’s obsessed with his phone, I’ve caught him watching proper nasty porn – not just normal stuff, like violent. I blocked the adult stuff on the WiFi and he exploded. Screaming at me, throwing stuff, called me a perv, smashed his controller. Didn’t speak to me properly for days. But he found a way round it anyway, hotspotting off his phone. I just can’t keep up.

He’s angry all the time. Slams doors, shouts in my face, gets right up close like he wants to intimidate me. Punched a hole in his wardrobe.

Doesn’t have any real friends anymore, just people on Snapchat and Discord. Always hiding his phone, I don’t know who half of them are. Sleeps odd hours, eats junk, and just sort of floats through the days.

I’ve tried getting help – rang the GP last year, but he refused to go in. Tried CAMHS, he told them to piss off on the phone and hung up. Youth support won’t deal with him unless he asks for it, and he just won’t.

I’m properly starting to worry about his mental health. There’s been signs for a while but no one wants to listen unless he’s the one asking for help, and he won’t.

But this morning… this was something else. I’ve never seen him like that. He looked… like someone I didn’t know. And now today he’s still sick, still not with it. I’m honestly scared.

Would IBU to try take him to A&E?? I don’t even know if they’d do anything. And he’ll probably go mad if I try and drag him there. But what if I don’t and it gets worse?

OP posts:
MiloMinderbinder925 · 22/07/2025 16:38

I wouldn't take him to A&E but I would look into trying to get some advice regarding his behaviour. Where's his dad? Is there anyone he listens to? It sounds like he's in a very dark place and you need some help.

You can try:

Family Lives
Young Minds
PEGS

They all have good helplines and might help you to come up with strategies to deal with his behaviour.

spongebunnyfatpants · 22/07/2025 16:41

A&E are overstretched enough without wasting their time with a hungover/drug come down teenager.

Make sure he's drinking plenty of fluids.

He needs sitting down and having a serious taking too.

Give him a list of rules and expectations that you find acceptable and if he can't stick to them, then he needs to find somewhere else to live.

You need to be harsh with him, because he's already walking all over you and it will only get worse.

ninjahamster · 22/07/2025 16:46

I would sit down with him later and ask him what he took.
He is drifting and he is not in school. That makes him a target for county lines if he is hanging out with the wrong people. They sometimes give teens drugs then offer them more if they just do a job for them, before they know it, they’re in really deep.

Worriedsick89 · 22/07/2025 17:35

Thanks for the replies, I do appreciate them. I’m still not sure what to do tbh. He’s just thrown up again and now can’t even keep water down. I got him to sip a bit and it came straight back up five minutes later. He’s just lying there shivering and looks awful. He won’t let me take his temp or anything. Still keeps saying he’s fine but he’s clearly not.

He doesn’t see his dad. That’s his choice. There’s more to that but I don’t really want to go into it on here tbh, it’s a bit of a dripfeed and I’m not sure I even want to type it out right now. Let’s just say it’s complicated and not something I’m pushing either way.

I get what people are saying about not going to A&E and believe me, I don’t want to be clogging up emergency care unnecessarily. But I’ve never seen him this bad. This isn’t just a hangover or a bit of weed or something, it feels wrong. I wouldn’t be on here in a state if it was just teenage messing about.

He’s not even coherent enough to have a proper conversation right now so the whole “sit down with him later” bit… I will, but that’s if he comes round enough.

I do think he’s vulnerable – I’ve been terrified for a while that he’s getting sucked into stuff he doesn’t understand. The whole online thing, the secretive messages, going out and not telling me who with. He’s clever in his own way but very naive, and I have thought about the whole county lines thing before. I honestly wouldn’t be shocked.

I’ll have a look at those support links, thank you for suggesting them.

OP posts:
shellyleppard · 22/07/2025 17:39

@Worriedsick89 could you ring 111 and ask for advice?? Especially if he's not keeping anything down. Good luck x

SweetFancyMoses · 22/07/2025 17:40

Gosh, I’d have been frantic. What a worry.

I’d be really concerned he’s taking drugs that will affect his brain. Early drug use can have a catastrophic effect on developing brains.

You’ve had some good advice on here.

Lanzarotelady · 22/07/2025 17:40

It is a hangover, he needs to sleep it off, that's all.

He is 16, he isn't the first, and he won't be the last, pack him off to bed with a bucket and save the lecture for tomorrow!

MaarvaCarassi · 22/07/2025 17:43

That’s a good idea @shellyleppard.

To those saying it’s just a hangover, it’s 12h later now.

TrustedTheWrongFart · 22/07/2025 17:43

Not the point but… assuming you have a phone contract for him in your name/control. You can put a block on his phone to restrict adult content too via your online account.

Exposure to violent porn is not good.

Lanzarotelady · 22/07/2025 17:43

MaarvaCarassi · 22/07/2025 17:43

That’s a good idea @shellyleppard.

To those saying it’s just a hangover, it’s 12h later now.

Have you never had a hangover last all day? I have.

Thunderpants88 · 22/07/2025 17:44

Read the book “Mum can you lend me tenet quid” if you want shocked into taking drastic action

no offence OP but you sound like your not mothering him at all well. Hard core porn? He didn’t care that you caught him? You let him lie and sleep all day and go out with people you don’t know? You need to raise your game big time.

sit down and tell him he is going to be a lying for jobs daily or return to education. He WILL contribute to the household tasks until he gets a job including making meals and dishes as his contribution in lieu of rent. If he doesn’t buck up he will be kicked out

VintageDiamondGirl · 22/07/2025 17:45

'I got him to sip a bit and it came straight back up five minutes later. He’s just lying there shivering and looks awful.'

12 hours since he got home? I would call 111 or drive him to A&E. Even if just for reassurance.

Ignore anyone telling you that you are wasting their time.

RedSeven · 22/07/2025 17:48

He'd badly hungover. He won't be the first and won't be the last.
there are other things that need dealing with but the amount of all nighters I had as a teen drunk!

A&E doesn't need to see severely hungover teens

shellyleppard · 22/07/2025 17:48

@MaarvaCarassi that's not a hangover. Especially if he can't keep anything down....

RedSeven · 22/07/2025 17:49

Lanzarotelady · 22/07/2025 17:43

Have you never had a hangover last all day? I have.

Yes this!! As an adult they last 2 days!

pale, sick, shakes, tired are all signs of a hairy hangover and nothing more.

Lanzarotelady · 22/07/2025 17:49

shellyleppard · 22/07/2025 17:48

@MaarvaCarassi that's not a hangover. Especially if he can't keep anything down....

What is a hangover then?

Lanzarotelady · 22/07/2025 17:49

RedSeven · 22/07/2025 17:49

Yes this!! As an adult they last 2 days!

pale, sick, shakes, tired are all signs of a hairy hangover and nothing more.

And the cries of never again

VintageDiamondGirl · 22/07/2025 17:50

RedSeven · 22/07/2025 17:48

He'd badly hungover. He won't be the first and won't be the last.
there are other things that need dealing with but the amount of all nighters I had as a teen drunk!

A&E doesn't need to see severely hungover teens

He came in at 5am, the OP posted at 5pm that he is shivering and cannot keep anything down. He needs medical attention. OP please call 111 (even just for reassurance, I am not trying to scare you just please get professional advise).

Beautifulsunflowers · 22/07/2025 17:51

Not keeping anything down? You don’t know what he’s taken? I’m going against the grain here and saying seek medical help, 111 for a start and see what they say.

Get him sorted for now, but yes you do need to speak to him. Whether he’ll listen??? I’d be really worried about county lines. I’d be really really worried in fact.
Hes 16, it’s such a difficult age when school have washed their hands of him and you don’t know where to turn.
please seek medical help first, then the social side.
Wishing you all the best of luck.

randomlemonsheep · 22/07/2025 17:51

Lanzarotelady · 22/07/2025 17:49

And the cries of never again

😂

Lincslady53 · 22/07/2025 17:52

Is he smoking weed? Could that be the odd smell? If it is do all you can to discourage it. Take no notice of the 'it's not dangerous, brigade. Our son, was OK at 16, but got into weed at Uni and it ruined his life. 20 years later he can't hold down a job, or relationship, has spent time in secure rehab units, which are little more that a glorified prison, and is now working in a minimum wage job trying to get his life back on track. I dont really have any advice on how to deal with it, but we had 20+ years of trying to steer him, and it was 20 painful years. Only now are we starting to see a normal adult inside him. We are a normal family, we don't smoke, in fact very anti smoking as FIL had an horrendous last 30 years due to smoking, we have been married for 48 years now, always supported him and his hobbies, and we were horrified when we found out he was a cannabis user. Hopefully, the hangover will make your DS think twice thr next time, but do all you can to dissuade him.

Lighteningstrikes · 22/07/2025 17:53

@Thunderpants88
Realistically how exactly do you get a strong male teenager who has already shown the OP aggression and violence, to comply?

Yep, kick them out straight into the hands of county lines.

Is that honestly what you would do? I doubt it if you were in OP’s position.

@Worriedsick89
I really hope for his sake and yours, that whatever he has inflicted upon himself has scared him shitless, and he stops going down the ugly path.

mintydoggyv · 22/07/2025 17:54

So sorry , a and e now this is bad. You need strict rules no phone no , no money , no freedom

randomlemonsheep · 22/07/2025 17:55

shellyleppard · 22/07/2025 17:48

@MaarvaCarassi that's not a hangover. Especially if he can't keep anything down....

well done on being sensible to never had a bad hangover, but you what do you actually think they are?

If he finished drinking just before 5am this morning, it would be more than surprising if he WASN"T still pucking and feeling sorry for himself 12 hours later 😂

MadeForThis · 22/07/2025 17:55

You need to find a way to take back the control. At the minute he is in charge and you seem scared of him.

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