My 16 year old said she is addicted to cocaine!

[Whatthehellamigoingtodo]

My daughter told me last night she is addicted to cocaine and has been using it for the past month. She said she owes money to a dealer and friends. She has just got a job, so will have access to money.

She has confided in a teacher at school, who is apparently going to meet her at an cocaine anonymous group, with an excuse they bumped into each other. I know the teacher is trying to do her best, but it just feels wrong. My daughter is terrified she will get kicked out of school, if other teachers find out.

My daughter won't let me help, even if I just mention it, I am in the wrong. I just don't know what to do. I have told her the teacher needs to stay out of it as she is risking her career. I am more than happy to support her, we have been through some awful times in the past and I have always been there. She suffers from mental health issues. The area we live in doesn't help, but I think moving her will just make the situation worse. I just don't know what to do anymore, I thought things were getting better. My family are not supportive at all, I can't tell them as it will make the situation worse.

If she’s addicted and she wants to not be; then I think going along to the cocaine anonymous is a great idea. The whole point of those groups is that what is said there stays there. And you need support to get off this stuff. I think it’s really kind of the teacher to say she will see her there.

Thank you for your advice.

Actually, as a teacher this is a massive safeguarding issue. Teaching professional standards are extremely clear. The teacher should have immediately report that your daughter confided she was taking cocaine to the school's safeguarding officer.

The teacher sounds young and naive. She will be facing serious consequences if this comes out. We are ALWAYS told that you cannot 'keep a secret' if a pupil confides something worrying to you. This is a massive red flag. The teacher is not really kind - she's really stupid. Your daughter needs professional help and the school should be ensuring this is dealt with correctly.

As a parent, report it to the school please. At the moment you only have her word that she is going to get help, or that she's 'told a teacher'. And she's not prepared to let you help or even discuss it.

Report - then you know something is being done.

I agree, you need to contact the school and ask for their advice. It wont be the first time they have had something like this. I feel so sorry for you (and your daughter) and cant imagine how this feels. Well done for taking the first steps to doing something whilst its not too late.