We discovered that our Form-two boy is abusing weed.

My son was sent away from school last week on suspicion of taking drugs. We were asked to take him for a drug test, which turned out to be positive for marijuana. He is 16 years old and in Form 2. This is the second school he has been since joining high school. I am contemplating transferring him to a day school. Unfortunately, I travel a lot and I am not at home often. I am worried that he might continue taking the weed without our knowledge. What should I do?

The fact that your son has already been to two different schools is worrying. While not all children are able to attend the same school till completion, transferring because of certain challenges is not always a good thing.

Your son is going through an identity crisis. He has learnt how to manipulate you and take advantage of you. While he may unconsciously be doing it, the more you sing to his tune of bad behaviour, the more he will continue jumping from one bad habit to another.

Most teenagers need guidance and, unfortunately, not all parents are able to successfully guide their children. You may need to get a mentor for your son. The fact that he is taking marijuana is an indication of a void in his life. There are different reasons he might be taking drugs, but the fact that he is not a frequent user gives some hope.

The doctor or counsellor who conducted the test must have recommended some steps to help your son. In every one identified patient, there are five more who are good at hiding their addiction problems.The fact is that the school has marijuana challenges and needs to address it to assist the other students. This is the chance for the administration to do so.