ADHD teen excluded for drugs - what now?

[Fleetheart]

My DS (15) has been highly challenging through school. Over the last year he has almost been permanently excluded a number of times. He’s taken up smoking weed. And I know he’s tried other drugs, like ketamine and Xanax. As well as impulsivity and lack of forward thinking, he is searching to make himself succeed somewhere. And now he has been caught selling Xanax to someone else. In many ways I am actually pleased it’s now out in the open and he is getting a severe shock - but what will be next? If he goes to PRU he will just be more influenced and learn bad behaviour. How can I find somewhere to go that will be able to teach him the right path? I’m prepared to borrow to pay for it- but have no idea where such a school may exist. We’re in Herts. Any ideas?

I feel your pain Fleet. Sorry not to have anything positive to say to you, but I have been going through this with DS(18) and have pretty much tried every tactic that I can think of, contacted every agency that I can find, etc, and have got nowhere. They are self medicating for a variety of reasons, I get that, but it is out of my control to change the causes that make him feel the need to do it (lack of support at school/college/uni, lack of friends, no social life, no GF, etc).

It is very difficult in your case to give a specific answer. When my brother started using Adderall, we also sounded the alarm and did not know what to do. Until one of my friends advised me to read the article addictionresource.com/drugs/adderall-addiction/ and will ask for help in AddictionResource. This is a free and confidential anti-drug hotline. Call them - they will help you.

My son did the same and got sent to a PRU- it didn’t suit him so he refused to attend .
The youth offending service worked with him for a few months - but nothing helped .

I ended up moving him away to the other end of the country for a fresh start . It was a drastic move but I felt I had no other choice at the time .