Thank you for finding us and reaching out today, you are going through a lot and it is good to reach out when we are feeling overwhelmed.  Hopefully we can find some ways to keep yourself in line so that you don't get kicked out. This is a good first step to getting help.

The first thing that you need to focus on is eliminating your drinking and drug habit.  Drinking and drugs affect our minds and, therefore, affect our behavior.  When we are under the influence of alcohol or any drug, we lose our ability to make good, smart decisions. 

Drinking and drugs put you at risk for being in dangerous situations because of this.  It is much more likely you will get in serious trouble while drinking or doing drugs because 1) it is illegal and you could get in trouble with the law, 2)people are more likely to take advantage of somebody who is under the influence of drugs, and 3) people who do drugs often are not healthy people to be around.  Drug addicts and alcoholics care more about drugs and alcohol than people. 

I wouldn't want you to run around with these sort of people and I certainly wouldn't want you to become an addict.  Addictions such as these tear families apart and destroy lives. 

Since you are a teenager your body is still developing and growing. As a teenager, you are MUCH more susceptible to becoming addicted to these substance than an adult would be.  Please get help for your drug and alcohol use.  It is so important that you quit. Talk to a school counselor, teacher or parent about getting more help with quitting.  It is crucial.

I can understand why you would want to run away.  When parents put down threats and rules that we do not understand or agree with, it makes us want to prove to them that we don't need them.  But running away is dangerous and it is impossible to run away from the problems you are having.  Also being out on the streets with no resources creates a whole new laundry list of problems.  Please do not runaway.

If you ever need to talk, we have a hotline you can call 24 hours a day. Call us whenever you need.  We are here to help.  Also email us back and let us know how things progress. We want to know!

Counselor, Dominic