What's Wrong with My Kid?

April 2, 2012
The author, a social worker who provides mental health services to addicts and those living with HIV/AIDS, is also a father who dealt with substance abuse in his own family when his eldest son became an addict. In this straightforward guidebook, he walks parents through the steps to understanding addiction as a disease that alters the mind and changes behavior. Parenting an addict, Leary points out, is different from parenting a “normal” child, and requires a different set of tools. He aids parents in becoming educated about the effects of addiction (including drugs and alcohol) and encourages them to let go of guilt and denial (common “dual demons”). In major sections, Leary addresses determining if a young person is addicted, understanding addiction, and “basic training” (including assertive but nonaggressive communication methods for parents, treatment programs and options for young people, a 10-step action plan, establishing a contract with the addicted teen as well as consequences when it is breached, and a frank discussion of the relationship between drugs and suicide). This practical yet compassionate handbook will be a valuable source of information and support for parents tackling this disturbing and all-too-common problem.