how can I stop my son from drugs!

[Nanchli]

My son is on drugs and every time he get caught, He promises me this is the last time.........but it keeps happening, Any advice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Michi-can-draw]

Nanchli,

I feel for you. I really do. Our son just turned 18 and we dealt with drug addiction from about 14 to 16 1/2 years old.

He told me he didn’t take drugs to get high. He took drugs to feel normal. He has ADHD. He stopped taking ADHD medicine because he felt that marijuana was natural and combining it with his ADHD medicine made his symptoms worse. It was a constant, battle of “know it all” comments, defiant behavior, irrational outbursts, failing, grades, running away, hiding drugs, getting high, and just spiraling into my heartbreak.

It was an exhausting nightmare.

Then, one day it stopped. What I’m about to tell you it’s probably going to sound so far-fetched, but this is the truth.

I’m a Catholic school teacher and about a year ago I was invited to see a world renowned exorcists who was giving a presentation in town. I attended and my son said he wanted to go because it sounded interesting. I think he was hoping to hear some scary stories, .

After the presentation, our son wanted to talk to the presenter and to no surprise, he shared another impulsive comment, “ I think I want to be a priest.”

Oh geez…I thought…eye roll.

To my utter surprise, the next day I received a call from the priest at our parish who was hosting this “ world renowned” exorcist Fr. Cliff Ermatinger. He asked if I would be able to come in and bring my son. The presenter saw something special in my son. This was really weird to hear-but okay. We’ll come in. It was intriguing. What was this about?

So I brought him in. My son spent a little time with Father Ermatinger in a room where I could hear some distant chatting. Then I started hearing prayer. The priest came out and asked me to join them. As I sat there, the priest began praying very intentionally prayers of deliverance for my son. I was totally confused. I was wondering “Is he exercising demons out of my son?”

Sure enough something very spiritual was happening. The priest spoke with authority in the name of Jesus, and cleaned up whatever was apparently afflicting my son.

As a mother, I was dumbfounded, somewhat guarded, but at the same time open to what on earth was unfolding. Nothing movie, like or terrifying happened. He simply prayed over my son, and casted out any evil spirits that he saw influencing my son in the name of Jesus.

Afterwords, he spoke with me for a bit, and explained how evil spirits can make themselves very comfy when offered any openings, such as drugs, pornography, etc. He explained that this is quite common. It’s not the same thing as the type of possessions you see on TV which are very rare, but instead, these are evil spirits, who cause chaos and disruption.

As we left the parish and walk back to the car , my son was a new boy. Literally, I brought home a different kid. He STOPPED smoking, hiding paraphernalia, and his outlandish behavior just stopped. This was jaw dropping, eye bugging, and just astonishing. The days, weeks and now months that have proceeded are just incredible.

I’m thankful to God for answering my prayers. It was a miracle. My son still suffers from ADHD. but he was cured of his drug addiction. I’m grateful and continue praying.

I take nothing for granted, and I realize that I need to continue being a prayer warrior.

[Nanchli in reply to Michi-can-draw]

wow this is so fascinating! Thanks for taking time to share this I am firm believer of faith, hope and trust in GOD! Yesterday my faith and my belief in God shook big time, hearing your story gives me HOPE again. I need to Believe that there is way out of this thanks again!

Last night I went out to drop off my daughter to her karate while my son went striaght to bed without eating and I park my car in a parking lot away from other cars..............I screamed hard and I cried like crazy person!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No one was listening other than HIM................................!Blessings to you!

[Michi-can-draw in reply to Nanchli]

I’ve had those screams Nanchli. Loud! Out of control screams and tears (also in my car). As horrible as it sounds, I felt that I could almost run my car off the road - I was so overwhelmed and filled with anguish.

Remember that your prayers will not go unheard. Stay strong. You can do this. You are not alone. God does exists and he never leaves. He finds ways to speak to us.

No one loves your son more than HE does. Someone once told me that God is not so much concerned with our comfort as much as he is our salvation.

You’re a good mama. The fact that you are on this site says that you are actively searching for help and doing the right thing.

You got this and with God at your side you shall stand firm. Nothing will disturb you.

To this day, I kneel down at the foot of my sons bed and pray over him as he sleeps. I also have some holy water I got from my local Catholic Church, (I placed it in a spray bottle ) and I spray the heck out of that room in the name of Jesus.

We are relentless mothers and we will not give up. We will do anything to protect our children.

We’re on a battle against evil. Just continue to ask God to increase your faith and give you what you need to persevere through this time, The ultimate triumphs of good is inevitable. You’ve got this .

You and your family are in my prayers.

[Nanchli in reply to Michi-can-draw]

Much love to you and to your family! thank you

Grateful for this !

[Michi-can-draw in reply to Nanchli]

💕

[eva2022]

Hi! My children are still very young, but I grew up with this situation with one of my brothers. He used drugs from 14 years old until now (almost 40)…lots of different drugs, some (much) worse than others. It took a huge toll on our family. My parents tried in-patient therapy, out-patient therapy, counseling, doctors. Later on we found out that he has underlying anxiety and that he was self-medicating. I don’t know what your insurance situation is, but looking back I think it would have been good for my parents to search for an underlying reason why my brother was using drugs, find a doctor that he would trust (hard to do), and treat that root cause. My heart goes out to you. Drug abuse is an incredibly difficult path to navigate, and it is exhausting. I would hear my parents up very late at night trying to figure out how to help my brother. I’m hoping that you all find the tools to help him, and that he can see that he can feel whole without drugs.

[Nanchli in reply to eva2022]

yes! I am constantly reminding myself once my son got out of this situation at some time in my life I am going to devote my time volunteering in school to help students make good decisions and stay away from them, Its TOUGHEST thing I have ever dealt with. I don't even understand how anyone can hook someone on this nasty stuff and make lives miserable! I know the reason for my son going this path is his ADD,it took us while to recognize the need that he need help and now he is refusing help! thanks for understanding and for your well wishes!

[Piper711]

Hi 👋🏼 I'm a recovering addict, started using at 9, stopped at 23. If he's young you can try to control where he goes but the reality of it is, you'll likely just end up with a more defiant kid who hides it better. Everyone always asks "How do I stop them from using?" Respectfully, you can't. Even if you can for awhile, you won't be in control forever. My suggestion is to ask him WHY he's doing the drugs. Drugs are not the problem, they are a solution TO a problem. There is something going on that is making him need or want them. Most often, the answers are pain, trauma, loneliness, fear, etc. Help him find real solutions for whatever he is medicating, and he may just stop. If he's refusing ADHD treatment, why? Are there any other alternative solutions? Has he done any therapy, 12 step fellowships etc? Maybe search these out, but the answer lies in him.