My son lives with his mom,hes 16,into drugs, alcohol. Since school has returned he has missed 2 weeks...HE tells me hes not motivated to go... His mother just closes the door in the morning when he wont get up....I,am worried,concerned,and even scared for my son...what if anything can I do .........Desperate DAle

Dale......it's time for you to step in. Hopefully it's not too late. YOU be at his door every morning getting his arse up out of bed and YOU be at the school every afternoon to pick him up. Monitor his days and his nights and talk, talk, talk. Believe me, he'll appreciate it. Maybe today he won't tell you that, but 10 years from now he will. If you need to, call the cops when you know he's out drinking or doing drugs. Scare the crap out of him. Let him know you are doing it because you love him. Don't just sit by and watch your son go down the wrong path.

See if the court can intervene, not sure since he is 16 years old. Take him to a jail or fast food restaurant and let him spend the day touring or working there -- not saying all high school drop outs end up in jail or working in fast food. I have kids and if one of mine did this I would take every item out of their room (amenities) leave them with a sheet a pillow and let them sleep on the floor. In addition, I'd take away phones, transportation and money - that is just for starters. Tough love. Ignoring this is rewarding bad behavior, I am sure his mother is overwhelmed as he is too old to stick in time out. I'd also make him take an over the counter home drug test to ensure he is not taking anything.

A good lawyer--and a good judge if you are lucky. Your still the Dad you have some right's? Spend the money and make some noise!!

Oh man, I went through hell with two of my kids (one son and one daughter) running away and drugs and alchohol.

The right answer here is get control as fast as you can. Tough love works but it is hard for the parents.

Mom is lost as to what to do obviously. She needs to start removing all those things he thinks are just a given around the house. TV in the room, take it out, radio in the room take it out, cell phone, gone, etc.. all the way to removing the door to his room so he understands privacy in her house is a luxury not a right.

It is tough when they reach that age because it is a matter of how dependent they are on their parents to how much control the parents still have.

When they run away you have to report them to the police as a runaway right away or you can be charged with neglectful child abuse.

Counselors had excellent ideas for this kind of thing.

He needs to understand that he will either go to school or work but he will not lay around the house all day also.

I hope something here helps. My children ended up messing up their lives with all their running and stuff so they are still paying for it.

Thanks to all those who shared regarding options with my 16 yeasr old son...I have spoken with my ex-wife and this coming FRiday the poop is going to hit the fan....SHE IS KICKING HIM OUT...I,am picking him up for lunch and then hec will be coming with me .... HE will be told he is either staying with me or at the sally-ann.WIsh us luck'''DAle

Good Luck Dale. I'll be sending prayers your way.

Good Luck hope everything works out for you and your son