Adolescence is not an easy time. Not for teenagers going through their many changes and confusing emotions, nor for their respective parents. They are discovering this new life stage and experiencing certain experiences for the first time, such as going out at night with their friends.
Going out means having a good time with your peers, listening to music and dancing, but sometimes the night can lead to a teenager coming home drunk. In Spain, young people start consuming alcohol at the average age of 14, according to data from the Ministry of Health.
It is convenient not to underestimate the damage that alcohol abuse causes to our health, especially in the case of young people in the process of development. For this reason, it is important to know how to act if your adolescent son comes home drunk, so that the situation does not repeat itself or worsen.
The first step, however difficult it may be for you, is to remain calm. Nothing good can come from anger, shouting, accusations and reproaches. You must evaluate the state of the minor's alcohol poisoning and assess whether it is convenient to go to the emergency room in case it is serious. If not, it will be enough to keep him awake until it passes, since going to sleep in these conditions could be dangerous, for example if he had to vomit.
When she's better, let her go to bed. Do not try to give him the talk at those moments, because he will not be receptive, he will not understand or internalize anything you say. The next morning, when you are well, it will be time to have an open conversation, marked by empathy and mutual understanding.
This means that you should adopt an affable posture, showing understanding and letting your son or daughter tell you what happened. Let her know that while you don't approve of her behavior, you are listening to what she is saying and appreciating her point of view, validating her emotions.
You must focus the speech from your concern for their well-being, explain with arguments why what they have done is not right and what are the dangers of alcohol consumption. Avoid raising your voice, being overbearing, or using impositions without reasoning, such as "you can't drink because I said so."
Let him know that his actions will have consequences. If he seems apologetic, maybe you can let it go with a simple warning. In the event that his behavior is not positive or the situation is repeated, you must mark a reasonable punishment and ensure that it is fulfilled. Otherwise, he'll learn that he can cross boundaries and won't respect your authority.
